Gauhati High Court Calls For Report From SLSA On Condition Of Children Lodged In Shelter Homes Across State

The Gauhati High Court recently directed the Assam State Legal Services Authority (ASLSA) to instruct the Secretaries of the respective District Legal Services Authorities to take stock of the situation in the shelter homes, particularly regarding the conditions of the children and submit a report before the Court on May 01, 2024.

The division bench of Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Suman Shyam further directed that in the meantime, the ASLSA may also apprise the Court regarding the various schemes of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) as well as the ASLSA regarding the children in shelter homes.

The Standing Counsel of ASLSA, R. S. Chowdhury and the Senior Government Advocate, D. Nath submitted that after the registration of the present PIL (Suo Moto), the condition in the temporary shelter homes has now been substantially improved.

However, B. D. Konwar, the Amicus Curiae in the matter contradicted the said position and submitted that the condition of the children in the temporary shelter homes is not up to the mark.

The Court directed that the Senior Government Advocate, Assam, D. Nath may also submit a report regarding the latest condition of the shelter homes before the Court by the next date of hearing.

The matter is listed again on May 01, 2024.

Case Title: In Re-plight of Children in Temporary Shelter Homes v. The State of Assam & Anr.

Case No.: PIL(Suo Moto)/2/2023

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