Ensure law and order in juvenile homes: HC to govt, police

Castigating authorities for their failure to control incidents of rioting in juvenile homes here, the Delhi High Court today directed the government and police to ensure maintenance of law and order and segregate the children involved in heinous crime in these shelters.
"Something is wrong. System is responsible for this. There can't be lawlessness. We can't allow rioting on daily basis. It means you are doing nothing," a bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Manmohan said after taking suo motu cognizance of a recent incident of juveniles going on a rampage.
The Director of Women and Child Development Rajeev Kale, who was present in the court, blamed lack of standard operating procedures as well as multiplicity of authorities for the situation.

The court said "keeping in view the emergent situation, we make Director, Department of Women and Child Development as well as senior officer of Delhi Police, not less than the rank of DC, to be nominated by the Police Commissioner within 24 hours, personally responsible for maintenance of law and order in all the homes."
Kale submitted said that multiple authorities have interfered in the administration of homes and juveniles involved in heinous crimes have been shifted to these sheleters.
He said because of these factors, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR), Supervision Committee, Juvenile Justice Board Committee and NGOs have not been able to control the situation.

According a news report, on December 16, a group of minors had escaped from an observation home after an eight-hour rampage during which they idulged in rioting, vandalism and arson.