HC asks Raj govt & Centre to file response to PIL on child death

Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court has asked State and Central government to file its response to a PIL over death of 12 children in a state-run child home for mentally retarded here.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice Ajay Rastogi and Justice D C Somani issued notices to the chief secretary, health secretary, social justice and empowerment secretary and additional chief secretary for women and child development of Rajasthan government and Centre on a PIL filed by one Hemant Bhai on Tuesday. Earlier on Monday the bench has already taken suo motu cognizance over the issue.

The bench has sought response of the state by May 5.

It has been alleged in the PIL that the state is providing Rs 1750 per child for welfare of children with Autism, Cerebral Palsy,Mental Retartdation and Multiple mental Disabilities but still nothing is being done on the ground to provide facilities to them and since 2010, 26 inmates have died out of which 12 were male and 14 were female suffering from mental disorder due to callous attitude of the state authorities.