Shift children to Govt.-run homes: HC

By Our Legal Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MAY 8. A Division Bench of the A.P. High Court, comprising Mr. Justice A. Gopal Reddy and Mr. Justice T.Ch. Surya Rao, on Tuesday directed the State Government to take all possible steps to shift the children from private adoption centres to the State-run rescue homes or hospitals.

These interim directions were issued in a writ petition filed by Mr. M. Satyanarayana Rao, president, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee. The petitioner moved the summer vacation court of the High Court seeking urgent directions in this episode.

The petitioner brought to the notice of the court the various press reports in this regard. He complained that the State and Central Governments failed in their constitutional duties. He sought a direction to cancel the licences of all adoption centres run by private institutions and individuals.

The Bench was informed by the State and Central government pleaders that action was being initiated as per law. The Bench then felt that the children be kept in safe custody and the State Government and the police were directed to take all steps to shift such children from the custody of private persons to State- run homes. The Bench admitted the writ petition.

Orders reserved

Our Staff Reporter writes:

The Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Mr. K.C. Bhanu, on Tuesday reserved orders on the bail application moved by Anita Sen, wife of IPS officer, Mr. Swaranjit Sen, and one of the accused in the child adoption racket.

The Judge heard arguments from both the sides and said he would pronounce the order tomorrow. Cases were booked against Anita Sen under various sections for alleged irregularities in procurement of children.

Meanwhile, the parade of children continued at the `Sishu Vihar' with 10 anxious parents visiting the State-run orphanage on Tuesday with the hope of finding their lost children.

Some of them had come from as far as Gulbarga district, Karnataka, and Kurnool, Nalgonda and Nizamabad districts. But, it turned out to be a wait in vain for them after they saw for themselves the infants housed there.

In addition to this, three parents also made telephonic enquiries about their lost children. ``They were looking out for their missed ones. Unfortunately, they had to return empty handed,'' officials of the Women and Child Welfare Department said, adding that such visits had become ``a kind of routine for us.''

``We have housed mostly infants less than an year old while most of them are looking out for children above five years of age,'' she said, adding that the plight of parents clinging onto a faint glimmer of hope was also pathetic.

DNA tests

The case of young Bhavani who was claimed by her parents, Srinivas and Renuka, was sent for DNA tests today, an official press release said here on Tuesday.

In its daily report, the Women and Child Welfare Department said that out of the 188 infants housed in `Sishu Vihar', 171 were in a healthy condition while 17 others were undergoing treatment at Niloufer Hospital. An infant, Lakshmi was referred to the hospital today for a swollen wrist.

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