CWC seeks closure of mercy home, writes to Addl Chief Secy, ADGP

Nitish Sharma
Tribune News Service
Ambala, December 7

Following repeated violations of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the Child Welfare Committee, Ambala, has sought permanent closure of a mercy home at Kalareheri village in Ambala Cantonment.

The committee has sent letters to additional chief secretary and director of Women and Child Development Department, additional director general of police, deputy commissioner, superintendent of police, district programme officer and district child and protection officer (DCPO), to close the home immediately.

A joint team of officials from WCD, DCPO and police, raided the home on Wednesday evening and rescued a minor girl (17) belonging to Uttarakhand. This was the second such raid in the past 15 days at the mercy home, which is reportedly being run illegally.

The minor was not present at the home at the time of the previous raid, so she could not be rescued.

Gurdev Singh, officiating Chairperson of the CWC, said “The mercy home is being run illegally, following which a raid was conducted on November 21, in which 25 children were rescued. The mercy home operator should have produced the girl as he knew that his home had been raided and it was illegal to keep the girl there. The norms of the JJ Act are being violated repeatedly, which is unacceptable.”

“In 2016, the home was closed but then the orders of CWC were set aside by the then DC and the home was asked to fulfill the conditions as per the JJ Act, but it failed. This time, the CWC has sought permanent closure of the home,” he added.