Ensure closure of children homes run by unregistered NGOs: SC

NEW DELHI: In a stern message, the Supreme Court today asked the Centre to ensure that unregistered NGOs do not run children homes across the country as they may be indulging in trafficking.

"Some of the girls are used in trafficking and it is possible that some NGOs are involved in trafficking and if State is not checking it, then it too is complicit... Be clear about this. Not a single un-registered NGO will run children homes," the social justice bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and U U Lalit said.

It asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) P S Patwalia, appearing for the Centre, to ensure that shutters are pulled down on the children homes being run by the unregistered NGOs.

Terming child trafficking as a "very serious offence under the law and against the humanity", it said, closure of unregistered NGOs "is better than being trafficked," even though the children there will have to be moved out.

The court made it clear there could be no compromise on safety of children lodged at children homes run by unregistered NGOs.

The court was hearing of a PIL filed by Sampurna Behrua on the issue, with an affidavit stating that in Assam there was a big inflow and outflow of small girls from children homes compared to boys from such homes.

The court sought answers from the government on the stark difference between numbers of girls and boys who left these homes. "Why is the number of girls more," the bench asked and then added, "Nobody knows that."

Asking the Centre to pull up its socks, the court said, "so far what you have been doing is writing letters. Much more has to be done. There are enough people to keep. There are thousands of NGOs which are genuine and willing to help children in distress".