Team inspects child care institute in Assagao following HC order

PANAJI

A joint team of the North Goa Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and the District Child Protection Unit inspected a Child Care Institution (CCI) in Assagao, operated by El-Shaddai, following directions of the Bombay High Court at Goa.

During a hearing of a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (SMPIL) on Wednesday, the Bench ordered an immediate inspection of the institution at 3:30 pm and a report to be submitted by Friday. Following this directive, a team was formed to hold the inspection.

Advocate General Devidas Pangam informed that the CCI is not registered and is allegedly housing children without orders from the CWC.

“We proposed to the High Court to conduct an inspection of the CCI, which was accepted. The team visited the premises to assess the situation, including the conditions in which the children are kept. An inspection report will be submitted on Friday,” Pangam told the media, after the hearing.

The Court has adjourned the matter for Friday morning when further directions are expected to be issued.

The High Court took suo motu cognizance of a letter from the CWC to the Anjuna Police, alleging that the institution was illegally housing infants under the age of two. The Goa government, concerned departments, and the NGO operating the institution have been named as respondents in the matter.

According to the complaint, the CCI has been housing children between the ages of two and ten years without CWC orders. Earlier this month, the Committee requested the local police to file a First Information Report (FIR) against the institution after its management was allegedly caught red-handed with unauthorized custody of over two dozen children.

The complainant also raised concerns about the origin of the children and why they were housed without informing the CWC.