Supreme Court: The Bench comprising of Madan B. Lokur, Deepak Gupta and KM Joseph, JJ., in its order regarding the horrific chain of events that transpired in the shelter home in State of Bihar, had issued a few directions in its earlier order and has again expressed deep concern in this regard on hearing out the submissions of the learned Amicus Curiae.
In the present order, the Supreme Court bench clearly stated that the point of concern majorly is about the protection of children, particularly girls in homes run by NGOs. The learned Amicus Curiae has submitted that:
- NIMHANS, Bengaluru should address the mental and psychiatric health of the children in shelter home.
- Clinical and Medical aspect to be addressed by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna.
- Rehabilitation and re-integration of the children should be left to be addressed by TISS.
All the above-stated suggestions of the Amicus Curiae were accepted by the Supreme Court and the bench directed all the above authorities to prepare a brief course of action and place it on record. Further, the Court required the Ministry of Women and Child Development to inform the steps to be taken in order to ensure that the sexual abuse of children does not take place in the shelter homes and other child care homes across the country.
The Bench reiterated its discussion in regard to no publication of the photographs of the victims of sexual abuse in electronic, print and social media. Also, no interviews of such victims should take place. Another point noted was the revelation of the victim’s identity by one of the accused’s wife in the Muzaffarpur incident for which Amicus Curiae shall disclose all the other names who have done so, and in accordance to law appropriate action shall be taken against them.
The matter is listed for 14-08-2018. [Sampurna Behrua v. Union of India, 2018 SCC OnLine SC 928, Order dated 07-08-2018]