CHENNAI: For a change from the serious legal arguments, the corridors of the Madras High Court on Thursday witnessed emotional scenes when four children were taken to the court to reunite with the staff of the home from which they were taken away six months ago by child welfare officials.
Judge Rajiv Shakdher who witnessed the emotional outbursts of the four children placed his hand on the heads of the children in a gesture of blessing as he was walking out of his chamber.
The four children were originally the inmates of Assisi Illam, an orphanage run by Franciscan Sisters of St Joseph in Nethaji Nagar.
They were taken in custody by Child Welfare Committee on June 1 as it found the home had violated the rules laid in Juvenile Justice Act. The home subsequently approached the Madras High Court seeking restoration of the children to them since they claimed the children were emotionally very upset as they were suddenly taken away from the home in which they grew up since 2005. The home also submitted that the children were given good education.
In an earlier order, Justice M Duraiswamy had directed the Child Welfare Committee to restore the children to the home.
The committee challenged this and a division bench consisting of Justices Rajiv Shakdher and N Satishkumar on Thursday conducted the hearing when the commissioner of social defence and the home department officials appeared before the judges. After individually examining them, the judges directed the CWC chairman to restore the children to the home forthwith and dismissed the appeal.
When the children were brought to the High Court in the evening following the court order, they, on seeing two sisters of the home, ran towards them, hugged them and cried.
Moved by their affection, the sisters too cried and hugged the children. A visibly moved Justice Rajiv Shakdher, consoled the children and blessed them.
Children upset
The children were taken in custody by Child Welfare Committee on June 1 as it found the home had violated the rules laid in Juvenile Justice Act. The home approached the court seeking restoration of the children to them since they claimed the children were emotionally very upset