‘Institutes like Nari Niketan should be opened to public’

When the lawyer tried to offer help to the sobbing girl mentioned above,she was thrown out of the Nari Niketan,Bains submitted before the Division Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Augustine George Masih.

Raising serious doubts over the UT Administration’s motive behind filing the public interest litigation (PIL),Bains pointed to the possibility of the existence of a sexual exploitation racket at the Nari Niketan. “The Administration wants to divert attention and seems to be trying to hide something,” said Bains.

He vehemently demanded that institutes like Nari Niketan should be made open to the public so that if the inmates are facing any problems,they are free to disclose it. “At present,these institutes function like jails where inmates cannot interact with others,” Bains averred.

Pointing to holes in the investigation being conducted by the Administration,Bains raised several questions. “It is strange that the Director Social Welfare,who is the incharge of the Nari Niketan,has not been suspended till date. Why no action has been taken against her? The Chandigarh Police has also failed to record the statements of all the inmates at Nari Niketan. Moreover,Kamla,a co-accused in the case,has not been arrested yet,” said Bains.

Highlighting further instances of laxity on part of the UT Administration,Bains referred to a recent case in which a 13-year-old girl went missing from Ashreya,a centre for the mentally challenged in Sector 46,Chandigarh,over two months ago.