Overview
- The Aurangabad bench directed the government to frame a policy within six months to provide salary grants to eligible NGOs that run homes for children in need of care and protection.
- The court told the state to identify at least one competent voluntary children’s home in every district with adequate capacity, infrastructure, and trained staff.
- Judges said resource choices must meet Article 14’s test of reasonableness and questioned funding priorities after pointing to cash transfers under the Ladki Bahin scheme.
- The bench criticised the reported per‑child support of Rs 2,000 as inadequate for food, care, and administration in shelter homes.
- Petitioners sought pay parity and backdated grants, the state said NGO staff are not government servants and many homes were found non‑functional, and compliance with the court’s directions now awaits action.