Delhi government panel to probe lapses

NEW DELHI: A day after a group of youngsters in conflict with law broke out of the juvenile correctional home near Delhi Gate, Delhi women and child development minister Rajendra Pal Gautam set up a committee to investigate the incident.
The four-member committee headed by a joint director-level officer has been asked to submit the report on the lapses due to which the 11 juveniles were able to attack the security guards and flee from the correction home.
“It is really surprising that 11 juveniles attacked the security personnel and fled on Wednesday evening. I have constituted a committee to carry out an inquiry and submit its report within 72 hours,” Gautam told TOI. “You will see some drastic changes happening the way the correction home is run.”
Gautam added that a superintendent-level officer of the women and child development department has also been appointed at the correction home, which is run by ‘Prayas’, an NGO. Delhi government runs three correction homes for juveniles in conflict with law and the other two are under its direct control. Gautam said that instructions have been given to strengthen security at the juvenile justice home and improve other arrangements.
“I don’t know under what circumstances Prayas was given the responsibility to run this facility 20-25 years ago, but it is clearly not the NGO’s job to run a juvenile correction home. We will explore the possibility of the government taking over its control,” said Gautam, who visited the correction home on Thursday morning.
He said the shelter home had more inmates, but some of them who were involved in less serious crimes have been released on bail to decongest the facility.