Taking suo motu cognizance of reports that the children were being subjected to torture at an orphanage in Indore, Madhya Pradesh and the police has registered an FIR in the matter, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has decided to extend its enquiry beyond the specific case and look into the status of minor inmates in other branches of the same organization located in different states.

The move aims to probe into the potential widespread nature of the issue and ensure the well-being and rights of children in various facilities associated with the orphanage. The Indore police had registered an FIR on the basis of the complaint registered by the State Children Welfare Committee.

Reportedly, apart from Indore, the orphanage has its branches in Jodhpur, Surat, Kolkata and Bengaluru under four states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal and Karnataka.

Accordingly, the NHRC has issued notices to the Chief Secretaries and the Directors General of Police of the States of Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal and Karnataka seeking an action taken report in the matter after conducting an enquiry/ inspection of the branches of the orphanage mentioned in the reports.

The authorities have been asked to submit a report in this regard within the next four weeks.

The Commission, in its statement  issued here said that, “if the contents of the news report, if true, amounts to serious violation of human rights of the inmates at the orphanage. It has noted that taking lawful action, an FIR has been registered by the police at Indore, but the matter has inter-state ramification. Therefore, an enquiry/ inspection of the other branches of the orphanage, situated outside Indore is also necessary.” As per the NHRC, it found that the media report had quoted the District Collector of Indore saying that the CWC team has found violations of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and they have sealed the hostel and shifted the children to government facilities.