An irate Bombay high court on Tuesday slammed the Maharashtra government calling its officials “wooden” and “absolutely useless” when it comes to the welfare of mentally-challenged children across the state. The court even stated that it would send such officials “marching”. The court has set a deadline of October 31 for the social justice department to ensure educational and health facilities to such children.
A division bench of Justice Dhananjaya Chandrachud and Justice Mahesh Sonak was hearing a suo motu (on its own motion) public interest litigation (PIL) based on a newspaper report, describing sexual abuse and pathetic conditions in special homes meant for the mentally-challenged children.
While pulling up the state for its lackadaisical approach, Justice Chandrachud remarked that the court could issue a notice of contempt to the principal secretary of the social justice department for not complying with its earlier orders. “All these fellows (officials) are wooden. They are not bothered about the mentally-challenged children. They think they can flout orders of the court. They are absolutely useless and are insensitive. These people would have been out in two months if they were in the private sector,” observed Justice Chandrachud.
Asha Bajpai, dean of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Tiss) and amicus curiae (court’s friend) in the case, informed the court that state hadn’t issued monetary grants for maintenance of special homes despite the court’s clear directions. The state, through its pleader, informed that the social justice department was following up on the matter and approval for the same lies with the state’s finance department. The court then directed the state to take interim steps and provide interim assistance in terms of education and health till the final approval.
The court also observed that there was an urgent need to sensitise teachers in the state so as to ensure that such children, who become fit to attend normal schools, be given that opportunity by schools and are accepted.
Ms Bajpai also informed the court that in the last session of the Legislative Assembly, the state had announced a scheme, wherein victims of sexual abuse and acid attacks would get compensation. However, mentally-challenged children haven’t been compensated till now, she said. The court also directed the department for women and children development and the social justice department to expedite the process of providing assistance to mentally-challenged children subjected to sexual abuse in special homes and apprise about the same in the next hearing.