Holistic approach required for kids in need of care: Bombay HC

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has observed that a holistic approach needs to be adopted so that children in need of care and protection are not only identified but also lodged in children’s home or rehabilitated by integrating them with their family. The court has also chosen to continue hearing one out of seven public interest litigations that covers issues such as setting up of children homes, special homes and specialised adoption.

The division bench of Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice N.M. Jamdar was hearing a bunch of seven public interest litigations, including three suo motu raising various issues of destitute children.

Among other things, the question before the court is whether these children are engaged as child labour contrary to the various legislation prohibiting the practice; whether these children would be begging or loitering on the street and public places in municipal areas; and issue of tracking these children and rehabilitating them.

However, the bench was of the view that there is no need to hear so many petitions on the same subject raising different issues instead it would hear one petition which covers all the issues.

“It would be pointless to continue with all the public interest petitions, three of which have been initiated suo motu by the court taking cognisance of a newspaper report. The reason is that a holistic approach needs to be adopted so that children in need of care and protection are not only identified but lodged in children’s homes or rehabilitated by integrating them with their family,” observed the bench.

The bench further said that it would continue hearing suo motu a petition of 2016 “where all issues concerning destitute children are being monitored; be it the setting up of children homes, special homes, open shelter, specialised adoption agencies etc.”