Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Bombay High Court at Goa has directed the Goa State Legal Services Authority (GSLSA) to provide legal representation to two women who claim to be the mothers of children rescued during a recent anti-child begging operation, allowing them to place their case before the court.
The direction came during the hearing of a public interest litigation concerning child begging in the state. The court observed that the women should have access to legal assistance before any decision is taken on their plea relating to the children.
A Division Bench asked the GSLSA to appoint an advocate, preferably a woman lawyer, to represent the applicants in the proceedings.
The women have sought access to the children, who are currently staying in different child care institutions after being rescued during a police operation. They contend that they are the biological mothers of the minors.
However, the court noted that the authorities are yet to verify the claimed relationship between the women and the children. Identity documents have been produced, but the verification process remains incomplete.
Officials from the Directorate of Women and Child Development and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) informed the court about the present status of the children, who continue to remain under institutional care.
The court was also informed that the children are believed to belong to Maharashtra and that the authorities are examining the procedure for transferring them to the jurisdiction of the concerned Child Welfare Committee there, subject to legal requirements.
Pending further proceedings, the High Court directed that the existing custody arrangement should continue and listed the matter for further hearing after legal aid is provided to the applicants.
