"Reckless Observations": DCPCR Refutes NCPCR's Allegations Against Harsh Mander Associated Children Homes In Delhi HC

"It is unclear from the provision how protesting against the government's policy decision and holding poor and even incorrect opinions about the Government can be termed as illegal. Any conclusion in that direction is the death knell of democracy.", the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has told the Delhi High Court while refuting the allegations made by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) regarding two children protection homes associated with Harsh Mander.

Calling the conclusions drawn by NCPCR as reckless observations, the DCPCR has stated that such conclusions threaten the "independent, impartial, neutral and sane nature" that a Child Rights Commission ought to exhibit. 

"They cannot be mediums for advancing a political ideology, subversion of democracy and punishing people for holding opinions, however different or inconvenient" it said.

The NCPCR had filed an affidavit in the petitions filed by Khushi Rainbow Home For Girls and Ummed Aman Ghar for Boys run by the Centre for Equity Studies (CES) wherein Harsh Mander is a Director, thereby challenging the inspection reports and the procedure adopted by NCPCR for conducting inspection in the said homes. 

According to NCPCR, it was found that the two children protection homes were prima facie in violation of child rights for the reason that various children were taken to CAA protest sites.

Countering the said allegations, the DCPCR has submitted that:

"All citizens including children are well within their right to know, discuss, debate on any issue facing India and form their own conclusions. The fear expressed by the NCPCR is rooted in the belief that children are stupid, have no agency and cannot think at all. DCPCR vehemently opposes such a belief and expects greater dignity be accorded to children."

While the NCPCR submitted that there were multiple sources of funding with regards to the two children protection homes, DCPCR has said that "NCPCR does not understand how NGOs fund themselves, and rarely does any NGO have a single source of funding for their operations."

"The Commissions meddling into affairs not their job hurts the standing of the Commissions and makes it difficult for them to discharge their functions." The DCPCR said.

Moreover, it was submitted that after the NCPCR's inspection, three more statutory bodies conducted inspections including District Inspection Committee (DIC), Child Welfare Committee-II (South) and State Inspection Committee (SIC).

"It is clear from four inspections of three statutory bodies that the NCPCR observations, except on some specific shortcomings, lack substance and merit. They are not borne out by the evidence." The DCPCR had submitted.

Children From Harsh Mander Associated Children Homes Taken To CAA Protest Site, Prima Facie Violation Of Child Rights: NCPCR Tells Delhi HC