NHRC issues notice to TN govt over juveniles escaping

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu government, seeking a report within four weeks on 33 juveniles escaping an observation home in Chennai recently.
"The Comission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that 33 juveniles had on July 11 fled the government- run observation home for boys and girls at Kellys in Chennai," an NHRC statement said.
"It was reported that the observation home, maintained and guarded by the Social Welfare department, is overcrowded and lack basic facilities. The inmates are treated badly," it said.
The Commission observed that "the children, who are in the custody of the state, are required to be handled sensibly so they do not become criminals in the future".

NHRC issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu government and the Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme, saying the media report raise serious concerns over human rights violation and negligence on the part of the Social Welfare department of the state.
It has asked them to reply to the notice within four weeks.