Women's panel summons WCD head over shelter home molestations

The DCW has summoned the director of Women and Child Development department of the Delhi government, seeking details of action taken in a case of several teenage girls at a shelter home here accusing its staff of molestation and injecting them with drugs.
The girls have also alleged that they were beaten up if tried resisting and also not provided sanitary napkins.
The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal has sought an action taken report in this matter.
Police have registered a case on the basis of a complaint by the women's panel chief in which it has been alleged that this had been happening for the last two years.

In the complaint given on behalf of 20-25 girls, it has been alleged that they were not fed proper food and were made to work quite hard. If they didn't finish the work on time, they were beaten up.
They have also claimed that the conditions they lived were quite unhygienic and they were administered injections that brought about "premature growth", police said.

"We will be questioning the staff members. Medicines and injections kept at the home will be sent for forensic examination," a senior police officer said.
Currently, the statements of the girls are being recorded.
Meanwhile, Maliwal has asked for a complete list of medicines and injections which are being administered to the girls at the shelter home.

She also has asked for details of the visits undertaken by the government along with copies of the visit reports from January 1, 2014, and also whether any preventive and reporting mechanisms for beating by institution staff has been put in place as provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act.
Delhi Police has registered an FIR and charged the officials running the home with criminal intimidation, causing harm by poisoning, criminal conspiracy and laws under the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection Act after the DCW reported the matter.
The Commission has also recommended immediate departmental action and transfer of seven officials of the home citing their close proximity will influence the girls who have reported brutal beatings.

It had also received complaint on April 8 after which it conducted a surprise inspection during which many complaints were received regarding human rights violations and lapses in the functioning of the home.
Some girls have also complained in writing to the Delhi State Legal Services Authority regarding the same, the Commission mentioned in its letter.