Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 09 2010:
The Supreme Court has directed the State of Manipur and Assam to ensure that no child below the age of 12 years or those at primary school level are sent outside for pursuing education in other States.
The directive of the apex Court followed the inquiry report submitted by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
The Court had earlier ordered the Commission to inquire into large scale transportation of children from Manipur and Assam to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Based on the inquiry report of the Commission, the Supreme Court has also directed the Ministry of HRD, Government of India to submit a list of the schools and hostels (district-wise), collected from the State Govts/Union Territories Administration which are currently occupied by the armed/security forces in the North Eastern States duly indicating the date from which or duration for which such schools and hostels have been occupied by the security forces.
Similarly, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been directed to ensure that the para military forces vacate the school and hostel buildings and submit an action taken report to the Court as well as NCPCR within two months.
Moreover, the apex Court has directed the Ministry of DoNER to hold meetings with North Eastern States specially Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland to assess their needs.