Shillong, Dec 17: Assuring that the Government will surely examine the legal action that should to be taken against Lei Shynshar Cultural Society for allegedly violating the Juvenile Justice Act by sending twenty minor girls to an institution run by an unregistered Trust in Tamil Nadu six months ago, Meghalaya social welfare minister Deborah Marak said as per section 51 of the Juvenile Justice Act, it is clearly stated that no children below the age of 12 years can be taken outside the state without the consent of the CWC.
Informing that an inquiry would also be set up to carry out proper investigation into the entire matter, Mark said, “We cannot say that these children are being trafficked.”
Marak further informed that the High Court of Madras differed the hearing on December 13 and later again the hearing was shifted to January 2, next year.
Assuring that the government is concerned for safety, health and education of the children, Marak said if the court of Madras gives the order to transfer the children back to Meghalaya on January 2, even she maintains that the Meghalaya government will immediately send officials to bring back the children to the state.
Marak also informed that while the state government is trying to get back the children to the state, the parents of the children have expressed unhappiness over the proposed move.
The twenty girls (8 to 13 years) hailing from West Khasi Hills, East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills region of the state were taken by the Lei Shynshar Cultural Society president B Khonglam from Pynursla and secretary P Kynjing from Jowai to the institution run by Sri Nevidita Seva Trust, Hosur, Tamil Nadu. The trust in Tamil Nadu is providing free education to them.
The presence of the minor girls from Meghalaya was detected by the CWC and district administration of Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu who had immediately rescued the children and shifted them to Narendra Nambikkia Natchathiram – a children’s home registered under the JJ Act.
The Krishnagiri CWC and district administration had on October also filed a petition with the Madras High Court on the matter.
On October 31, the officials from Meghalaya met the chairperson of Krishnagiri CWC and sub-collector of the district (Krishnagiri) who informed that the Sri Nevidita Seva Trust had appealed to the High Court and the court had issued an order to maintain status quo. The court fixed hearing on November 5 and hence the 20 children could not be handed over to the officials of Meghalaya, Marak informed.(SP News)
