HC seeks Delhi govt's affidavit on juvenile home

The Delhi High Court today asked the city government to inform it whether a juvenile home, which was vandalised by some boys earlier this month, had maintained prescribed standards.
On August 8, the boys from state-run Adharshila observation home at Majnu Ka Tila in north Delhi went on a rampage and set ablaze furniture, damaged houses and vehicles with stones.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice Vibhu Bakhru also said that the Juvenile Justice Act and Rules specified the standards including physical infrastructure of observation home, special home and safety home and also sanitation and hygienic condition.

"The state government is directed for an affidavit indicating as to whether the standards gave been maintained in Majnu Ka Tila or not," the bench said taking note of the fact that roof of three homes are located in the same premises and as per the rule the buildings should have been segregated.
The government was also directed to inform it about if any inquiry was conducted by the department into the August 8 incident.
Last week, the high court had taken suo motu cognisance of living conditions at the juvenile boys home.

Two judges of the high court's Juvenile Justice Committee visited the observation home and recommended suo motu measures to monitor the situation.

The judges found that the infrastructure and sanitation conditions at the observation home were "abysmal" and that the inmates were deprived of any "constructive activity".
According to reports, the premises of the home are in a dilapidated condition, with damaged walls and overflowing sewers. Cleanliness is also an issue at the home.
The high court has appointed senior lawyer A J Bhambhani as amicus curiae to look into the issues and assist the court in monitoring the situation.
"The committee was of the view that the situation calls for immediate remedial measures," the court noted.