Karnataka: Children live in fear amidst lack of basic facilities & strict namaz routine at Darul Uloom yateemkahana

The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) conducted an inspection drive at the Darul Uloom Sayeediya Yateemkhana on November 19, situated at Sayeed Nagar, Banglore in Karnataka with the district child protection officer. During this drive, the members of the commission came across a lackadaisical approach adopted by the organisation which affected the children’s life living there. Apart from the missing basic amenities like a bed to sleep on there were other documented irregularities, like missing registration and more.

Subsequent to the inspection, the commission addressed a letter to the Chief Secretary of Karnataka, urging the initiation of a First Information Report (FIR) against the head and members of the committee overseeing the orphanage’s operations.

According to the contents of the letter (dated November 20 and designated as DD11547) released by the NCPCR and obtained by Organiser, the commission asserted that the orphanage was violating multiple laws established under the CPCR and the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. At the time of the inspection drive, approximately 200 children were residing at the orphanage. The following are the observations recorded by the commission subsequent to the drive:

• The orphanage lacks registration under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, contravening Section 41 (l) of the JJ Act. According to this section, all institutions—whether operated by a state government or voluntary/non-governmental organizations—intended for housing children in need of care and protection or children in conflict with the law must be registered under the Act, irrespective of receiving grants from the Central or State Government. The corresponding penalty for non-registration is outlined in Section 42 of the JJ Act, 2015.
• Additionally, the orphanage fails to meet the necessary infrastructure for accommodating a large number of children. There are five rooms of approximately 100 square feet, each housing four bunk beds for eight children. Furthermore, 16 children sleep on bunk beds placed in the corridor. Approximately 150 children sleep in two large halls designated for prayer. This situation violates the fundamental right to education, as none of the children are enrolled in school.
• Moreover, the orphanage lacks recreational facilities, such as play materials or a television, further compromising the well-being of the children. The living conditions in the orphanage amount to a violation of Section 75 of the JJ Act, 2005.

Demanding an FIR to be lodged against the head of the orphanage, the commission sent the letter.

Sharing other details about the inspection drive, the NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo wrote on social media platform X, “A surprise inspection of an illegally run unregistered orphanage named Darul Uloom Sayyadiya Yatim Khana in Bengaluru, Karnataka, revealed several irregularities. About 200 orphan children have been kept here. 8 children are kept in a room of 100 square feet, 40 children live in 5 such rooms and 16 children live in the corridor. The remaining 150 children who offer namaz in the mosque sleep in two different halls at night,”

He added, “All 200 children study Islamic religious education in the Madrasa in these namaz halls throughout the day. No child is sent to school. There is no play equipment, children do not even watch TV. Small children are very innocent and so scared that when they see the Maulvi coming, they all stand still and close their eyes. They wake up at 3:30 in the morning to study in Madrasa.”

The NCPCR head mentioned further that, “The students get engaged and sleep in the afternoon. Then there is training from evening till night. There are short breaks for namaz during the day. There is no other place for eating, resting, entertainment, etc. One has to stay in the mosque only. Whereas it has come to light that this orphanage, which has property worth crores of rupees, has a separate building in which a school is running but these children are not allowed to go there. These children are living a medieval Taliban life, this life is not written for them in the Constitution. This is negligence of the Karnataka government and a violation of the Constitution. @NCPCR_ is taking cognizance, issuing notice to the Chief Secretary of the state,” he concluded.