The high court on Monday issued notices to the state government in a suo motto public interest litigation (PIL) seeking an enquiry into the administration of the Government Observation Home for Boys which allegedly lacked infrastructural facilities.

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The suo motto PIL was registered based on a letter written by the registrar general of the high court Krishna P Bhat.

According to newspaper reports, the doors and windows of Balakara Bala Mandira and the government home remained locked and the boys lacked space for physical activities.

They boys slept in locked spaces where grills restricted their movements.

Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairperson Nina P Nayak had, on January 9, observed that the living atmosphere there was not suitable for children.

The reports said the alleged suicide attempts by three boys in the government home on January 31 raised serious doubts about the quality of facilities available for them. Unable to bear the living conditions there, some children had gone on the rampage causing damage to property.

These children were being deprived of their rights guaranteed under the constitution as well as under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000.

The objective of the act is to see that the children are protected from moral and material abandonment.

The division bench headed by chief justice Vikramajit Sen said: “We also consider it proper to extend the scope of enquiry to the administration of the Government Home for Girls.”

Advocate Sumana Baliga was appointed amicus curiae to look into the matter.