Shivangi Prakash –
Published on: September 4, 2021, at 09:20 IST
The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed all Subordinate Courts in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh to ensure that minor girls in need of care and protection who marry at a young age against their parents’ wishes after fleeing from home are not sent to Nari Niketan/special home/observation home for juveniles in conflict with the law.
These directives were issued by Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi in response to the issue of minor girls who were seeking protection from the High Court after eloping with the boys of their choice.
The Courts used to put young girls to Nari Niketan or similar shelter homes when they were judged to be under the age of consent.
The High Court ordered that these runaway underage females be placed incompetent child care institutions with adequate budgetary and infrastructure.
The High Court has also issued instructions to closely monitor and supervise their activities to ensure that minor girls in need of care and protection are not exploited.
The High Court ordered the secretaries of all the District Legal Services Authorities in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh to start visiting and depute legal aid counsel.
They are ordered to visit child care institutions where minor girls who need protection and support are kept under the orders of the High Court or any of the District’s Courts for assessment of their living standards for the purpose of suggesting any improvement and assisting them in the redressal of their grievance.
The Court further ordered Punjab, Haryana, and the UT of Chandigarh to identify/notify child care institutions that have already been identified as viable in each district or set of districts, and to give them the necessary financial assistance.
Also Read: What is Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021?