The Madras High Court has directed the State government to adhere to the commitment given to the court on constructing a new building for a juvenile home in Madurai.
The issue pertains to a Public Interest Litigation petition moved in 2006 to improve the condition of the juvenile home.
As the home that houses 21 children in two rooms was in a shambles, the court directed the Chief Judicial Magistrate and the Principal District Judge of Madurai to inspect it.
In February last, the officials submitted a report describing the condition of the home.
The State government then informed the court that repairing the building was not feasible. Instead, a new building would be constructed. The court directed the authorities to submit a chart showing various stages of completion of the project.
When the petition came up for hearing before the First Bench comprising Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, the Bench said, “Almost after three months we find that the bar chart submitted shows that only the second stage is on the anvil of completion. This stage as per the bar chart itself required 25 days. If this is the progress which would be maintained, one does not know when the project will see the light of the day.”
“We are of the view that from now on the bar chart has to be strictly adhered to by all concerned, whether it was the PWD or the other government authorities, the Bench added.
With regard to pending proposals for installation of video conferencing facility and providing vehicles to other homes in the State, the Bench said, “We expect the government to provide necessary approvals within 30 days of proposal being made and thereafter immediate steps should be taken for installation of the said facility.”
The Bench posted the petition to November 27 for further hearing.
In case of delay the authorities asked to approach the court for extension of time
