Bringing succour to the mentally challenged rape victim who got pregnant after being allegedly violated by the security guard of Sector 26-based Nari Niketan, a Ludhiana-based NGO has offered to adopt the girl. However, with authorities failing to appoint a guardian for the girl – who is currently residing at Aashreya, a halfway home for mentally unfit in Sector 46 – the process might face some legal hurdles.

Talking to TOI, Shravan Kumar of Nishkam Seva Trust, Ludhiana, said, ‘‘We don’t have any problem adopting the girl as we are taking care of 20 other mentally challenged inmates at our ‘ashram’. But we need the guardians’ consent for the same.’’

Experts said the child welfare authority should have appointed a guardian for the victim. In fact, the absence of one has now hindered the medical termination of pregnancy, which could have been authorised by the welfare committee, instead of the high court. ‘‘In case the girl had a guardian, there would have been no need to approach HC and delay the process,’’ said advocate RS Bains. Head of gynaecology department at GMCH-32 Anju Huria said, ‘Guardian’s consent is enough to perform an abortion.’

A local-level committee headed by the home secretary looks into the guardianship issue. However, a member of this panel, Balbir Singh, said, ‘‘We appoint guardians after being informed that an inmate has been admitted. But nobody told us about this girl.’’ He added the incident had brought forth the vulnerability of such orphans, and said the committee members would visit Nari Niketan and conduct a reality check before formulating guidelines for their safety.

Source: Times of India

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