The orphanages, run by an NGO of Sindhutai Sapkal, have rescued thousands of children, the petition claimed and appealed to Gandhi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to look into the matter.
Responding to the petition, Gandhi today tweeted, "Examining the issue of orphanages run by Smt. Sindhutai Sapkal. Have asked the Maharashtra Govt. To intervene."
A senior ministry official said "as per the JJ Act, all childcare institutions are supposed to register themselves and this wasn't done (in this case). We have intervened and told them to file their registration form afresh, which they have done. They will be subjected to whatever checks and balances are there (before they are registered)."
The petition by journalist Sucheta Dalal on Change.Org reads, "Sindhutai Sapkal is called Mai by 1000s of children who she has helped raise through her numerous orphanages across Maharashtra. Today she is being asked to shut down her orphanages by the state government."
"She has been honoured with numerous awards, including the prestigious Holkar Award by the government of Maharashtra. Now the same government is targeting her, sabotaging her incredible work," the petition alleged.