Order of the Supreme Court regarding protection of children from COVID-19 in protection homes, India, 11/06/2020
Order of the Supreme Court of India in the matter of In Re Contagion of COVID19 virus in children protection homes dated 11/06/2020. Around 35 out of 57 children in a Protection Home at Royapuram, Chennai have been infected with COVID-19 and are hospitalized. The remaining children have been shifted to an adjacent building. The Supreme Court directed the Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, state of Tamil Nadu and secretary to Social Welfare Department to submit a report giving details of the reasons for the spread of COVID-19 in the protection home. The status of the health of children 'in conflict with law' in various protection homes in Tamil Nadu should also be added in the report.
The apex court also directed the circulation of a questionnaire to the state governments with respect to the care and protection of children in conflict with law. The Juvenile Justices Committees of the High Courts should also be supplied with the questionnaire.The Juvenile Justices Committees of the High Courts shall ensure that the State Governments provide the information that is sought for in the questionnaire before June 30, 2020.