HYDERABAD:Expressing concern at incidents of deaths of children in “Sishu Gruhas”, a division bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday directed the Telangana government to file counter affidavit in a PIL case seeking action, including registration of criminal cases, against the officials responsible for the incidents of death of children and also sale of children in “Sishu Gruhas” in Telangana state being maintained under the Integrated child development services / Integrated Child protection scheme.
The bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice K Vijaya Lakshmi was dealing with a PIL by Balala Hakkula Sangham, represented by its founder president P Achyuta Rao, submitting that since last several months incidents of death of children were taking place in Sishu Gruhas particularly in Nalgonda, Ranga Reddy and Hyderabad districts, and also sale of children by officers and employees of Sishu Gruhas.
The petitioner’s counsel told the court that in one such incident, about 32 children have died due to dehydration, weight loss, Pneumonia and so on. Some of the infants/children have died due to the negligence of employees and improper treatment. He sought the court to order for an enquiry into the affairs of Sishu Gruhas and take necessary action against erring officers and employees.
After hearing the case, the bench issued notices to the respondent authorities - secretary to ministry of health and family welfare, principal secretary to women development and child welfare, director of women and child welfare, Nalgonda district collector and project director of ICDS for filing counter affidavits on the issues raised by the petitioner. The bench posted the matter to Feb 27 for further hearing.