State told to rehabilitate 94 rescued children

A division bench comprising Justice S Nagamuthu and Justice V Bharathidasan on pursuing a report about the rescue of the 94 children including 48 girls, directed the District Child Welfare Committee concerned and the Director of Social Defence to take appropriate action for their rehabilitation. 

The bench in its order, also held, “We are also hopeful that either the police authorities or the authorities under the Factories Act and other enactments will take appropriate penal action against the persons, who are responsible for either employing the children or allowing them to beg.”

The status report filed by K Shankar, Additional Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, South, Greater Chennai Police, submitted that searches conducted by 47 special teams on April 21, 2017, led to the rescue of 94 children and arrest of 79 adults including 70 women. Likewise, another status report filed by A Amalraj, Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore City, stated that a total of 91 children were rescued in Coimbatore out of whom five were found begging.

The interim orders are based on a Habeas corpus petition filed by M B Nirmal, Founder of Exnora International, to produce 8-months-old Vimal and 9-months-old Sharanya, who went missing.