Shift children from Prem Dham Ashram: HC to government

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed Women and Child Development authorities to immediately transfer children from Prem Dham Ashram in Najafgarh, where they were kept in "deplorable" conditions, to an alternative home.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdev directed the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police to conduct an investigation on allegation of sexual exploitation of children at ashram, which is run by NGO Human Care International. 

"The photographs show that some of the female inmates are in semi and complete naked condition and that also in the presence of male children," said the court.

"The photographs that have been shown to the court are very disturbing the allegations of the respondents are prima facie fortified from the photographs shown," it added.

Advocate Prabhsahay Kaur appearing for Department of Women and Child Development told the court that the Prem Dham Ashram has concealed material facts and that there was evidence and material including photographs to show that the children were being kept in deplorable conditions.

Even complaints have been received by them of the sexual exploitation of children, the lawyer added.