LG directs govt to submit plan on Observation Homes

Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today directed the Delhi government to submit a comprehensive plan within two weeks on improving the management of Observation Homes being run in the city.
While reviewing the functioning of Observation Homes, Jung directed the senior government officials to focus on issues of security, infrastructure, and other facilities being extended to the residents at these homes while preparing the plan.
Jung constituted a committee of Principal Secretary (Social Welfare), Secretary (PWD), Special Secretary to Lt Governor and concerned DCP of Delhi Police for preparing the plan.
The meeting was attended by all the senior officials concerned, besides Principal Secretary (Law and Justice) and Joint Commissioners of Police (Central Range and Northern Range).

The directions have come against the backdrop of February 24 incident in which more than 40 juvenile offenders had escaped from an observation home in Mukherjee Nagar area in North-West Delhi after creating ruckus in the facility.
The incident had taken place when authorities were shifting two juvenile offenders to another juvenile justice home at Majnu Ka Tila.
Amid violence and stone-pelting, more than 40 juveniles had managed to escape.
There has been a series of incidents of arson and clashes among juvenile offenders in remand homes in the national capital in the last couple of months. Many of them who had escaped during the previous incidents are still at large.