The Centre and the Rajasthan government have been asked to file their response to a PIL in connection with the death of 12 children in a government- run child home for mentally retarded here by the state high court.
A division bench of acting Chief Justice Ajay Rastogi and Justice D C Somani has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Health Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary for Women and Child Development department of the Rajasthan government and the Centre on the PIL filed by one Hemant Bhai and asked them to file a response by May 5.
The bench had on Monday taken suo motu cognisance of the issue.
The state provides Rs 1750 per child for the welfare of children with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple mental disabilities but nothing is being done on the ground to provide facilities to them, the PIL has alleged.
The callous attitude of authorities have led to the death of 26 mentally challenged inmates, including 12 men and 14 women, in the state since 2010, it said.
