The Kerala High Court has directed the state government to furnish details of child care centres/centre homes where nomadic children, who were found begging or selling knick-knacks on the streets, were kept until their repatriation began.
The High Court had initiated a suo motu PIL, after taking cognisance of media reports related to nomadic children begging or selling knick-knacks at busy junctions and tourist spots, and also their plight that they should be taken care of, sent to shelter homes or repatriated.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice S. Manikumar and Justice Shaji P. Chaly noted from the photographs in the media reports that the children were sleeping on platforms or roads and that respondents were bound to provide them adequate care and protection in terms of the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
The Court directed the respondents impleaded in the suo motu petition to take note of the contents of the Registry’s note and file a statement/counter affidavit with supporting documents, setting out the steps taken to provide adequate and suitable care and protection to the children in need and also the nomadic children found to be begging or selling knickknacks at busy junctions and tourist spots.
From another news report dated October 16, 2022, the Court observed that drug peddlers were attempting to lure students outside school campuses since they are aware of the strict monitoring within the premises of such educational institutions and therefore, the Court directed the respondents to take note of the report stated to have been submitted by the Excise Intelligence.
“The Member Secretary, Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA), Ernakulam, respondent No.3, is directed to conduct a detailed enquiry into the incidents, which necessitated this court to initiate the instant suo motu public interest writ petition under the caption ‘Protection and rehabilitation of children in streets’ as well as the aspect of drug peddlers attempting to lure students outside the school campuses,” the order read.
Suo Motu vs The Secretary to Government & Ors