Team Herald
PANJIM: The North Goa District Child Welfare Committee (CWC) has found that 15 children below the age of six were kept at the Assagao child care institute without following due procedures.
As per the procedure, an orphan child or any child which needs to be sheltered in child care institute is presented before the CWC. After examining various factors, the CWC decides as to where the child should be housed and passes order to this effect. As many as 15 children at the El Shaddai Assagao care centre were found to be housed there without the CWC order.
The inspection was carried out on Wednesday and the report was submitted to the Court on Friday. However, as per the report presented by CWC before the High Court, all the children are safe and being taken good care of. In view of this, the High Court has asked CWC to visit El Shaddai centre, interview each child as well as their parents or guardians if any and pass an order in the best interest of the child.
In order to enable the CWC to make further inquiries, the matter was posted for next hearing on September 17.
The High Court had admitted a public interest litigation (PIL) suo motu based on a letter dated August 13, 2024 of the CWC, North Goa District.