Karnataka HC directs Manipur Govt to take back 15 orphans

BANGALORE, February 3: Karnataka High Court on Friday directed the Manipur Government to take back 15 children, belonging to the Northeastern States, who were being taken care by the Bangalore police since their recent release from the unauthorised detention of an American who runs an orphanage on the city outskirts, reports UNI. A two-member division bench, while dismissing a habeas corpus petition filed by Gary Mareyes, the owner of the orphanage, also directed the Karnataka Government to hand over five such Kannadiga boys to their parents on tracing them, else rehabilitate them as per law. Justice Kumara Rajaratnam and Justice VG Sabhahit held that the claim for the custody of the 20 children by the petitioner was untenable as per law. Noting that their detention was 'illegal and unauthorised', he stated the parents of the children, aged between five and ten years, had been traced. The official wanted the children to be handed over to their parents after taking them to Imphal. He also stated that two gazetted officers of the Government would be present in Kolkata and receive the children. The court accepted the undertaking and directed the officials to take back the children to Manipur under the escort of three Karnataka Government officials and two constables of the State police.