MATTER OF GOVERNMENT CHILDRENS HOME Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) We have come across a news report published today (6.4.2012) in the daily newspaper "Hindustan" that in the Government Children's Home at Shivkuti, Teliyargan, Allahabad a peon Vidya Bhushan Ojha, who had been working in that Home for several years was involved in commission of rape with 3 minor orphan girls aged 8 to 10 years. He has been taken into custody by the Shivkuti police. The matter came to light when the adoptive parents of a girl who had been taken in adoption 2 days back found some blood stains on her underwear. On being questioned this child disclosed that she was wearing the underwear of another child in the children's home. The adoptive parents then met the superintendent of the home. When the girl to whom the underwear belonged was questioned she disclosed that Ojha had committed rape on her. Two other orphan girls then disclosed that the peon had committed similar acts with them, but due to fear of beating by this miscreant they had not dared to disclose this earlier. The charge of rape was even corroborated in the medical examination of the two girls.

(2.) We are absolutely shocked by this report.

(3.) We would be interested that the investigation and trial in all the three matters be concluded within three months so that an exemplary deterrent message goes out that neither Courts nor society can tolerate such abhorrent conduct by persons who are given the charge of providing shelter to such hapless little orphan girls, and that such miscreants would be dealt with severely and with utmost expedition. We also fail to understand how the said miscreant could be working in the Home for so many years and nothing had come to light, even though as many as three girls complain of molestation by this miscreant. Is there, no superintendence or watch over orphan minor girls who are provided shelter in these homes? Such silence and succumbing to the terror of the miscreant was only possible if the orphan minor girl children were left abandoned without attention, love and care from the persons incharge of running the home. In such circumstances we can well imagine the poor quality of food, clothing, education and general supervision that the children would be receiving from the persons incharge at the home.