Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 27: In a letter-turned PIL filed by visually impaired practicing Advocate Suraj Singh seeking in-depth probe in the infamous sexual exploitation of mentally challenged girls at Rotary Inner Wheels Home, Division Bench of High Court comprising Chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice Hasnain Massodi today adjourned the matter for December 3 with the directions to the Senior Additional Advocate General to inform the Court whether the antecedents of those running the affairs of the Home at present were checked by the district administration.
When the PIL was taken-up for hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the petitioner invited the attention of the Division Bench towards the compliance report filed by Deputy Commissioner Jammu in the form of an affidavit.
“In para-5 of the affidavit it has been submitted that two female wardens namely Santosh Kumari and Sukandiya Devi already posted in the Rotary Inner Wheels Home at Channi Rama are taking care of inmates round the clock. Apart from Administrator and Wardens 3 female teachers, one female cook, one male peon-cum-helper, one male Safai Karamchari and one female tailor are also available for looking after the needs of the inmates”, Advocate Ahmed said.
While referring to FIR No 183/2013 dated September 4, 2013, Advocate Ahmed raised strong objections over the continuation of Santosh Kumari, Sukandiya Devi, Lalita Sharma, Chand Bibi and Mangal Singh as staff in the home when their names have been specifically mentioned in the FIR lodged by whistleblower namely Arti Mahajan.
Upon this, Division Bench put a query to Senior Additional Advocate General Gagan Basotra as to why such persons have been allowed to continue in the Home when their names are figuring in the FIR. On this, Mr Basotra submitted that these employees of the Home were not charge-sheeted for any offence.
However, Division Bench was not satisfied with the stand of Senior AAG and the matter was passed over for second half as Senior AAG sought time to seek instructions from Additional Deputy Commissioner for answering the query of the court and volunteered to produce the officer after the break.
When the matter was again taken-up in second half, Mr Basotra informed the Division Bench that the Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu has gone on training and requested for adjournment of the matter.
While adjourning the matter for December 3, 2013, the DB directed the AAG to seek instructions from Additional Deputy Commissioner to satisfy the Court about the antecedents of those running the Rotary Inner Wheels Home at Channi Rama Jammu.
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