The National Human rights Commission has issued notice to the Chief Secretary and DGP, UP over reports of 57 minor girls found COVID positive; 5 of them pregnant and one HIV positive at a State run Shelter Home in Kanpur.
Taking suo motu cognizance based on media reports, the Commission observed that “the contents of the media report, if true, are enough to prima facie believe that the public servants have failed to provide safeguard to the victim girls and, apparently, were negligent in protecting their right to life, liberty and dignity in the custody of the State .”
The Commission has called for a detailed report from the Chief Secretary in the matter including health status of all the girls, their medical treatment and counselling provided to the girls by the authorities. The State Government has also been directed to order an inquiry into the matter from an independent agency and to review health status of the female inmates lodged in shelter homes, across the State and issue suitable directives that such incidents do not recur in future.
The Commission has also issued notice to the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh calling for a report regarding registration of FIR in this matter and status of investigation. The response is expected within 4 weeks from both the authorities.
According to the media reports, the girls at the shelter home had been exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms for a few days, and the local administration had informed the State health department about it only last Friday on June 19,2020. Reportedly, the Kanpur District Magistrate has said that there were seven pregnant girls living in the home, and five of them tested positive for Covid-19. He has said that these girls were already pregnant when they were brought to the shelter home on the recommendation of the Child Welfare committees in different districts, and investigation under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act is going on in all these cases.
The Senior Superintendent of Police, Kanpur has said that all the girls found Covid-positive are being treated at the Kanpur Medical College. The shelter home has been sealed, and its staff have been quarantined.
-India Legal Bureau