New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Chief Secretaries of four states to appear before it and explain as to why they did not respond to Centre’s request on mandatory registration of NGOs, running children homes.
The order came from the social justice bench of justices Madan B Lokur and U U Lalit when the counsel for the Ministry of Women and Child Development informed that four states, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh have not responded to its communication on the issue.
“No appearance on behalf of the four states. Additional Solicitor General said that they are not co-operating at all.. Presence of the Chief Secretaries is necessary on next date of hearing, January 8,” the court said, adding that “if they do not turn up then contempt has to be issued”.
The court’s order came during hearing of a PIL filed by Sampurna Behrua, in which the apex court in its order passed in September had found that unregistered NGOs run children homes across the country and they are not registered under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. It had also observed that they may be indulging in child trafficking. It had asked Additional Solicitor General P S Patwalia, appearing for the Centre, to ensure that shutters are pulled down on the children homes being run by the unregistered NGOs. ASG, however told the court that majority of the state governments and union territories have not replied to their request on the issues. The bench asked how can the states say that they will not obey the law of country.
“Ask them? What are the parliamentarians doing. That means they are not hearing you… Either states are independent like in United States or you are not hauling them up. Who should be held responsible. You should haul them up,” the bench said. The counsel for Uttar Pradesh government told the bench that they will comply with the court’s direction before the next date of hearing. (PTI)
