The Madras High Court disposed of a Petition filed seeking direction to the respondents to comply with the statutory provisions, including the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act and the Persons with Disabilities Act, for the welfare and rehabilitation of mentally retarded children in Government Institutions.
A status report is also filed by the Project Officer, Home for Mentally Retarded, Department of Social Welfare, Chennai, in response to the report submitted by the Committee constituted by the court.
The report suggests that the government is funding all the allowances for the staff. Maintenance grant is also sanctioned and disbursed. The renovation work of the building needs to be carried out and steps are being taken to send necessary proposal to the government. The Resident Multipurpose Health Worker is taking care of all mentally retarded children and is providing regular medication to all the ailing children as per the prescription of doctors and in case of emergency, the children are being taken to the Government Hospital in Tambaram.
It is further stated that one vehicle and driver are permanently available at the institute. There are two staff quarters and currently the Multipurpose Worker is residing in the quarters. The State Commissionerate has sanctioned to fill all the vacant posts. A communication has been made by the institute to the Commissionerate with regard to the filling up of necessary teaching staff as two Senior Teachers retired recently in April and May, 2023.
“The vacancies of staff need to be filled up on priority basis. The government shall ensure that the necessary sanctioned staff are appointed within a period of six months “, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay V.Gangapurwala and Justice P.D. Audikesavalu directed.