CJI terms conditions in child protection homes sub-human, assures full judicial support for remedy

Chief Justice of India TS Thakur on Monday termed conditions in child protection or observation homes as “sub-human” and said the government machinery needs to be sensitive towards the issue of trafficked and missing children.

He assured judiciary’s full support in ensuring justice for such children but said the responsibility of their rehabilitation rests with the government and use of technology was the only solution to deal with the problem of such a huge magnitude.

“Government machinery needs to be sensitive towards these children. Conditions in protection or observation homes are sub-human. Children are kept in objectionable and unhygienic conditions.

“The process of rehabilitation of these children is entirely with the government,” he said during a programme organised here by National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) and Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi-run NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan.

“Judiciary has always had its concern and will continue to do whatever we can do. Our commitment will remain the same despite the difficulties and regardless of the number of judges we have,” the CJI said.

“We are conscious of it and are sensitive towards it.  Judiciary will always stand by the cause. Judiciary is just one of the limbs. Magnitude of the problem which we are facing today is so large that judiciary alone cannot do it,” he said.

Speaking on the inauguration of ‘National Workshop on Rehabilitation of Missing and Trafficked Children’, the CJI said technology would play a crucial role in repatriation of these children.

“We are not being able to use technology in this regard.  Technology is the only answer which can held in tackling the problem of such a magnitude. We have perhaps never considered the option of technology when a child is missing or rescued,” he said while referring to the use of technology in countries like America to match a rescued person with the missing one.

Thakur also said it was “unfortunate’ there was no proper coordination among the agencies concerned regarding such children as the process was “so loose” and “unsatisfactory” which was required to be improved.

He said there were various articles in the Constitution and legislations in favour of rights of children in the country and there was no need to add anything.

“But the ground reality is different. Everyday 22 children goes missing in Delhi and 180 children are missing every day in the country,” he said while referring to the figures of the National Crime Records Bureau.