The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has summoned Jharkhand chief secretary Sukhdev Singh to appear before it on September 18 with an action taken report and relevant documents on alleged “inconsistencies and illegal activities” at a shelter home in Ranchi.

Chairperson of NCPCR Priyank Kanoongo in a letter issued on Wednesday to the Jharkhand chief secretary, informs of the summons issued under section 14 (1) of CPCR (Commissions for Protection of Child Rights) Act 2005 for failure of the chief secretary to present the action taken report by August 20 on “inconsistencies and illegal activities” found in the functioning of Premashray Shelter Home and Khushi Rainbow Home, both in Ranchi.

The summons further informs that the NCPCR had on August 1 issued a letter to the chief secretary to take action and share the report.

Under section 14 of the CPCR Act, the commission has all the powers of a civil court trying a suit under the code of civil procedure, 1908 for summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining on oath.

The summons has asked the chief secretary to come before the commission in Delhi on September 18 at 4pm along with the action taken report and supporting documents.

The summons also warns that if the order is not complied without a lawful excuse, the chief secretary will be subjected to the consequences of the non-attendance as
provided in the relevant rules of Code of Civil Procedure 1908.

The NCPCR chairperson had visited the shelter home in Ranchi in July this year and during interaction with media on August 1 had alleged “massive corruption and forgery in such shelter homes”.

“The state government approved the said shelter home (Premashray) for 50 kids but it had facilities only for 25. Interestingly, 18 kids from there have been sent to Kasturba Balika Vidhyalaya, which means their food, lodging and other expenses are borne by the school education department,” the chairperson had alleged.

“Ironically, they were sent without the nod of the child welfare committee (CWC). However, the shelter home kept showing the presence of these kids in their register to usurp funds. This apart, four kids were illegally transferred to another shelter home, which was not even formally registered with the competent authority,” Kanoongo had alleged.

The NCPCR had then threatened an FIR against the “illegal” shelter home.