The Delhi government has informed a court here that it has rescued three minor orphans, whose mother had died in a road accident, and has placed them in shelter homes for their proper care and protection.
The government’s report came in compliance of order of Motor Accident Claims Tribunal Presiding Officer Santosh Snehi Mann directing the authorities to take necessary action for rescuing and rehabilitating three kids–two boys and a girl– whose living conditions made them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation after the death of their mother who was a beggar.
The court has noted that the two boys had to drop out of school after their mother’s death which was “violation of their fundamental right to education for which state is under a statutory obligation”.
“In the facts and circumstances of the matter and above observations, in my opinion intervention of the State and the statutory authorities is necessary not only for enforcement of fundamental rights of the three children of the deceased, but also for their care and protection so that they do not become destitute, vagrant or delinquent in the absence of proper care and protection,” it said.
In pursuance of the court’s order, District Child Protection Officer of the Delhi government’s Department of Women and Child Development submitted a report saying that on visiting the place where the kids were residing, it was found that they were in need of immediate care and protection.
“As per report, all the three children of deceased Urmila were produced before the Child Welfare Committee-I, Nirmal Chaya Complex. The two boys have been placed in Don Bosco Ashalayam and the girl is placed in Snehalaya for short term.
“In view of the intervention by the government and the information to the statutory authorities, no further action is required to be taken by the tribunal,” the judge said.
The court was dealing with a road mishap case in which 55-year-old Urmila had met with an accident at New Rohtak Road in May 2014 and died in the hospital. The identity of the offending vehicle could not be ascertained.
She is survived by three children aged between 10 to 15 years and they were living in slums along with their uncle who was a drug addict and used to create nuisance regularly.
The court noted that while the 10 year-old daughter of the victim was vulnerable to anti-social elements, the two boys dropped out of school and were doing some petty jobs.
The court in its earlier order had asked Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Delhi State Child Protection Unit, Delhi Legal Services Authority and Child Welfare Committee at Mianwali Nagar to intervene and take necessary action for protection of the three children.
