Govt affidavit sought over implementation of shelter home

The Bombay High Court today directed Maharashtra government to file an affidavit stating by when it would implement the recommendations submitted by a HC appointed committee on improving the conditions of children shelter homes in Mumbai.
The committee was formed in April this year by the high court while hearing a suo moto (on its own) public interest litigation on the issue of poor condition of children shelter homes in the state.
The committee was asked to conduct inspection of two children homes in Mumbai - one in Mankhurd and the others in Umerkhadi (Dongri) - and submit a report.

A division bench of Justices A S Oka and A A Sayed was today informed that the committee has submitted its report to the government along with its findings and recommendations.
The bench was informed that in the Mankhurd shelter home among several other recommendations some were for a boundary wall to be constructed, out of the two buildings one can be used as vocational training institute and for some renovation work to be carried out.
The court was also informed that the committee had sought certain information from NGO Children's Aid Society, which runs the shelter home in Mankhurd, but the same was not provided.

"The state government shall file an affidavit stating what role is played by the Children's Aid Society in the management of the shelter home in Mankhurd and what are the powers given to the NGO. The affidavit shall also state by when the government would implement the recommendations submitted by the committee," the court directed.
The petition has been posted for hearing on July 20.