Madras High Court today closed a petition alleging that the Akshaya Trust, a home for mentally challenged persons in the district, had subjected a female inmate to sexual abuse and many inmates of the home died under suspicious circumstances, saying "allegations against the institution have not been substantiated."
Justice M Jaichandran and Justice R Mahadevan of the Madurai bench said, "The allegations against the trust have not been substantiated with sufficient evidence."
The Judges also observed that the trust had a valid licence to run the home as per the provisions of Tamil Nadu Persons with Disabilities (equal opportunities, protection of rights, and full participation) Rules.
However, the Judges said the Commissioner for Differently Abled Persons should monitor the activities of the trust and the home and if any irregularities were found there it would be open to the authorities concerned to take action in accordance with the law.
The trust should inform the local police before taking any new person as inmate and furnish details about the person.
The petitioner C Muthurani contended that one 21 year-old girl had been allegedly subjected to sexual abuse in the home. It had been reported that she ran out of the home in nude. The incident resulted in agitations by a section of the people. On inquiry, it was found that some other female inmates were also sexually abused, the petitioner maintained.
Then Additional SP V Shyamala Devi and Advocate Commissioner were asked to ascertain the conditions prevailing in the house. The Registrar (Administration) of the High Court also filed a report.
Based on their reports, as many as 221 inamtes had been released. However 31 inmates who expressed their willingness to get released, had come back later.
Senior counsel for the home, Yashodhavardhan said no irregularities had taken place in the institution. Only poor and needy were taken to the home for providing shelter and necessary care and protection were provided to them.
