Tripura High Court passes directions for protection of orphan girl

The Tripura High Court passed some directions for protecting the future of an orphan girl.

The present Suo Motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was disposed of earlier by the High Courton 24-10-2017 and in view of the subsequent development; the matter has been again listed.

In view of the present condition of the child ( orphan girl ) and after hearing the Secretary, High Court Legal Services Committee, who is the guardian of the said child and also D. Bhattacharjee, G.A., the High Court directed the Secretary, High Court Legal Services Committee in consultation with the concerned authorities to get the child admitted in hospital either in Institute of Human Behavior and Allied Sciences, a Government Hospital or in a Private Hospital in Delhi, at her discretion.

In this regard, the High court deputed security officer, shall be deputed to look after the security of the child on behalf of the State of Tripura. The Director of Social Welfare and Social Education Department, Government of Tripura shall also periodically monitor the same , the Division Bench of Chief Justice (Acting) T. Amarnath Goud and Justice Arindam Lodh directed.

A copy is marked to the Director of Social Welfare and Social Education Department, Government of Tripura.

A copy is also marked to the Superintendent of Police, West Tripura, Agartala for providing a male security officer during her(child) transit from Agartala to Delhi and way back from Delhi to Agartala.

The High Court observed that the Superintendent of the said Hospital in which the said child is admitted shall also periodically report the condition of the child to the Secretary, High Court Legal Services Committee.

Keeping in view the present status of minor girl , the High Court feel it extremely necessary to pass the following further directions:

1. Orphan girl has to be shifted from Modern Psychiatric Hospital, Narsingarh to “State Foundling Home” considering her mental age in the spirit of RPWD Act immediately, if she is found fit to be discharged, and considering the fact that by this order, orphan girl needs immediate treatment by a specialized hospital in New Delhi.
2. It is made clear that the Director, Social Welfare and Social Education Department shall arrange to and fro journey of Orphan girl and the officers to accompany her in terms of the above directions regarding her treatment outside the State.
3. The treatment cost including accommodation, fooding, lodging, etc. of the Orphan girl and accompanying staff would be borne by the Director, Social Welfare and Social Education Department. The Director, SW&SE also will engage a Liaison Officer in New Delhi to contact and to keep in touch with the concerned authorities of the hospital during her treatment in New Delhi. Further, the Director, Social Welfare and Social Education Department shall inform and take up the matter with the Chief Resident Commissioner, Tripura Bhavan, New Delhi as regards the above directions and follow it up.
4. It is further directed that State‟s Child Welfare Society to appoint a trained female attendant or in case such attendant is not available , then a female nurse from State‟s Psychiatric Hospital in consultation with the guardian, that is, the Secretary of High Court Legal Services Committee to take adequate care to Orphan girl on monthly salary basis, the expense of which would be borne by the Director, Social Welfare and Social Education Department, Govt. of Tripura during her rehabilitation in State Foundling Home.