The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has written to the government of Madhya Pradesh to take action against a District Magistrate in an incident pertaining to illegal Christian conversion of minor children.
According to a report published in Swarajya, “The commission had taken cognisance of a news report in July which said that minor children kept in a private hostel in Sagar district were being forced to worship a particular deity. The commission then directed the DM of Sagar to provide information in the matter, but received no reply despite several reminders.”
In a letter addressed to the chief secretary of the MP government, the commission said that the DM’s conduct in the case is tantamount to suppressing information. It directed the government to take action against the DM for failing to discharge his duties.
The commission sent a notice to the District Magistrate of Sagar on July 14 to submit an action taken report in the matter. Despite several reminders, the DM did not respond to the Commission.
Pointing out that the officer has failed to discharge his duties, in a letter dated November 27, the NCPCR has directed the Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary to take action against the DM of Sagar.
“A senior functionary in the State machinery and occupying the key post in the district, DM Sagar, did not bother to either take into consideration the specific statements of the minors, and made no attempt to register an FIR in the matter under the provisions of Madhya Pradesh Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam, 1968,” the letter reads.
“This is serious violation on the part of the DM, Sagar, since the statements of minor are on record and some of the minors belong to the Scheduled Caste and Tribe,” the letter further said.
