SC "shocked" over non-auditing of funds to states under ICPS

The Supreme Court today expressed "shock" over the response of the Centre that it has not conducted statutory "social audit" of the funds disbursed to states under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS).
A social justice bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and U U Lalit, dissatisfied with the response of the Centre, asked the Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Development to appear in person before it on the next date of hearing.
"The rules framed by the Centre has not been followed by the central government itself ... We are extremely shocked," the bench said.
The bench had earlier asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) P S Narasimha to inform it about the utilisation of funds under the ICPS by each State, with particular reference to issues relating to Juvenile Justice.

The scheme is meant to improve conditions of the children observation homes and Juvenile Justice boards across the country.
The apex court had asked the Ministry to place before it the reports of social audit, if any, conducted under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules for the last two years on the funds disbursed under ICPS to the states.

On being told today that the social audit has not been conducted, the bench asked, "why? Can a scheme (ICPS) override the provision of social audit? ...Don't you contemplate monitoring the scheme?"
The bench perused the chart provided by the Centre and said it raised questions as some states have spent "exactly the same" amount allocated under a specific head of the scheme and commented: "The time for thinking is gone, now start acting."

The bench is hearing a 2007 PIL on various issues concerning welfare of children across the country.