In a disturbing incident at the Madras High Court, a 15-year-old girl jumped from the first floor of the building shortly after a court order directed her to be lodged in a government-run home for girls. The teenager sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment at a city hospital.
The incident unfolded during a hearing for a habeas corpus petition filed by the girl’s father, who had reported her missing earlier this year. The police had located her at her grandmother’s house. During interactions, the girl had expressed a strong desire to live with her mother in the Andaman Islands and had refused to stay with either of her parents.
After considering a confidential counselor’s report, a division bench of Justices MS Ramesh and V Lakshminarayanan concluded that the Andaman Islands would not be a safe environment for the girl. As she was also unwilling to stay with her father, the bench ordered her immediate admission to the Government Children’s Home for Girls in Chennai and directed that she be evaluated by a psychiatrist at the Institute of Mental Health. Her father was ordered to cover the costs of the evaluation.
It was immediately after this order was issued that the girl jumped from the first floor. According to court sources, she was conscious when she was taken to the hospital. The case has been adjourned for further hearing on August 26.