RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh High Court has appointed eleven court commissioners to inspect the 20 Gharaunda Centres established across seven districts and submit their reports regarding the conditions and facilities that the state government claims to provide at these centers before the next hearing.
The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice N. K. Chandravanshi, delivered this judgment after concerns were raised about the transparency and conditions of these centers.
Earlier, on August 10, 2023, the High Court had ordered the Secretary of the Social Welfare Department, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Public Health and Family Welfare Department, and the Secretary of Finance to submit personal affidavits detailing the latest status of Gharaunda Centres meant for lifelong shelter and care of persons with disabilities (mentally retarded) covered under the National Trust Act. Additionally, the Secretary of Finance was directed to disclose the allocation of funds to the organization responsible for the last three financial years and how these funds were utilized.
In compliance with the court's order, the aforementioned officials have submitted their affidavits. However, upon reviewing the documents, it became evident that the true conditions and status of the Gharaunda Centres remained unclear, the court stated.
To address this issue and gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation, the court has appointed court commissioners. The team includes Sangharsh Pandey, Surya Kawalkar Dangi, Shivali Dubey, Apoorva Tripathi, Palash Tiwari, Ishwar Jaiswal, Aditi Singhvi, Malay Shrivastava, Ravindra Sharma, Vivek Shrivastava, and Siddharth Shukla, who will visit the eleven centers and submit reports to the High Court on the conditions and facilities provided by the state.
There are four centers each in Raipur, Bilaspur, and Balod districts, while Koriya district has five centers. Similarly, Ambikapur, Raigarh, and Bastar have one center each.
The Court has directed the District Magistrates in the respective districts to provide all necessary facilities and assistance to the court commissioners during their inspections. If needed, appropriate security arrangements will be made by the concerned Superintendents of Police, as ordered by the Division Bench of the High Court.
Furthermore, the Secretary of the Social Welfare Department and the Secretary of Finance have been directed to pay an honorarium of Rs. 10,000 to each court commissioner during their visits to the Gharaunda Centres.
The next hearing for this matter, along with WPC No. 1265 of 2020 and WPC No. 2114 of 2020, has been scheduled for November 3, 2023, at which time the Court Commissioners are expected to submit their reports.
This development marks a crucial step toward ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of Gharaunda Centres. The court's decision to appoint Commissioners reflects its commitment to upholding the welfare of beneficiaries and the efficient utilization of funds in this important scheme. The court posted the matter on November three on which date the court commissioners shall submit their reports.
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