Onus on state to rehabilitate Preet Mandir inmates: CARA
1 July 2010
Onus on state to rehabilitate Preet Mandir inmates: CARA
Express News Service Posted: Jul 01, 2010 at 0338 hrs
Pune The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has informed the Bombay High Court that it is the responsibility of the state government to rehabilitate children lodged in the Preet Mandir adoption home in Pune now.
Earlier this month, the court had expressed concern about 450 children lodged in the adoption home and directed additional solicitor general DJ Khambata to seek instructions from CARA about what it proposes to do about those children.
The affidavit, filed by CARA deputy director Jagannath Pati, said the recognition of Preet Mandir was revoked in May 2010 after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case against the Pune-based institution and that CARA had decided not to issue a no-objection certificate in cases of inter-country adoptions effective from February 15, 2010. “It is for the state government now to take necessary action for the rehabilitation of the children... CARA shall, however, continue rendering assistance to the government in its efforts to de-institutionalise such children who are deprived of parental care and also can be placed with loving and caring family.” Pati said the authority was giving full cooperation to the CBI, which is probing the affairs at the adoption centre. The bureau had sought six months to complete the probe.
NGOs Advait Foundation and Sakhee had moved the court against Preet Mandir. Their advocates Pradeep Havnur and Abhay Nevgi had earlier told the court that a number of children lodged at the adoption home were found to be malnourished. A division bench, headed by Justice BH Marlapalle, has asked the secretary of Child Welfare Committee to remain present in court on Thursday. Petitioner’s lawyer Jamshed Mistry said the bench had also called for documents to prove that Preet Mandir had secured a stay on the de-recognition decision from another bench of the high court. The first information report filed against Preet Mandir states that “Enquiry has revealed during 2005 to 2010 in as many as 70 instances, Preet Mandir has received excess money in the form of donations by extortion from Indian parents, amounting to more than Rs 50,000.”