With its investigations confirming incidents of drug abuse, sexual assault and violence with surgical blades among the inmates of the Seva Kutir Juvenile Home at Mukherjee Nagar, the National Human Rights Commission has recommended a security review of all the Juvenile Homes in the Capital to the Delhi Police Commissioner.
During its investigation into the functioning of the Mukherjee Nagar home, the NHRC had also found that the private agency responsible for its security had failed to stop the entry of contraband substances and surgical blades. It has therefore also demanded that the private agency should ensure deployment of adequate security personnel as per the guidelines recommended by the Delhi Police after the review.
The Commission has also asked Chief Secretary to take necessary action and submit an action taken report within six weeks.
It took up the issue suo motu and had registered a case in 2013 following media reports about there being brawls and beatings and incidents of drug abuse and sexual assault among the inmates. The Juvenile Home staff was not able to control them. While directing for a surprise inspection of the Home by its Investigation Division, the Commission had also called for reports from the Secretary, Department of Social Welfare of the Delhi Government on December 19, 2013.
The NHRC investigation team, deputed for surprise inspection of the institution, had also made some important observations.
It noted that “some juveniles used to take drugs and managed to sneak in some tablets/chewing tobacco inside the Home. This indicated lapse in screening of the visitors or the juveniles at the time of their entry in the Home.”
“The allegations of physical harassment/intimidation and sexual abuse by some bully juveniles were also found to be true. Such tormentors were primarily repeat offenders and those transferred from Tihar/Rohini Jail on account of their juvenility,” the team said. As for the staff at the Juvenile Home, the team pointed out that it “is terrified for their own safety as some of them were attacked by the juveniles in the incident of October and December, 2013.
The majority of staff posted (18 out of 34) at the Juvenile Home is on contractual basis. Non-disbursement of pay on time and their non-permanent status were de-motivating factors under the given circumstances.”
The team had also recommended various suggestions for overall improvement in the facilities and atmosphere inside the Juvenile Homes for the better care of the juveniles in conflict with law.
