NHRC Takes Suo Moto of ‘Child Abuse’ in Madrasa, Notice to Tamil Nadu Government

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Saturday has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that two persons have been arrested in Chennai, Tamil Nadu for housing and abusing orphaned juveniles from Bihar and rescued 12 children from a Madrasa located at Ponniammanmedu.

The Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretaries to the Governments of Tamil Nadu and Bihar and the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, Tamil Nadu calling for a detailed report in the matter, within 4 weeks.

The Commission has observed that though the police has reportedly acted promptly and the accused have been arrested but the matter is grave and serious in nature requiring a thorough investigation by the law enforcing and child welfare agencies to see if there are other such facilities, where the innocent children are being brought from other parts of the country and being subjected to abuse and harassment.

In addition to this, the Commission has asked its Special Rapporteur, Dr. Rajinder Kumar Malik to visit the State of Bihar from where these juveniles were brought to Tamil Nadu.

The National Human Rights Commission in its press statement said that “According to the media report, carried on 1.12.2022, the police had got information through 1098 Helpline that some children are being subjected to harassment and physical abuse in a Madrasa located at Ponniammanmedu near Madhavaram in Chennai.

A criminal case has been registered under relevant sections of the IPC and the accused, who belong to the State of Bihar, have been arrested. The presence of a Child Welfare Officer, the children were taken by the police to the government children’s hospital and later, they were shifted to Royapuram Boys Home, NHRC Said