Lahore High Court's (LHC) Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh has issued a significant ruling regarding Darul Aman and child protection bureaus, ordering the removal of all male employees from Darul Aman across Punjab.
The court has ordered the deployment of an all-female police force for security in all Darul Aman.
Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh delivered the detailed 36-page verdict in response to a petition filed by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and others. The court ordered the removal of male employees from all Darul Aman facilities in Punjab, emphasizing the need for an exclusively female workforce. Female police officers are to be deployed for security in these shelters to ensure the safety and well-being of residents.
Justice Sheikh also mandated the installation of CCTV cameras at all entrances and within the premises of Darul Aman shelters to enhance monitoring. Additionally, the Punjab government has been instructed to create a comprehensive database and develop software to monitor shelter homes effectively.
The Punjab government has been given six months to formulate rules under the Women Protection Act 2016 to regulate all shelter homes and run child protection institutions. Vocational training programs are to be introduced for the economic rehabilitation of women residing in Darul Aman.
The court emphasized the need for regular inspections of these facilities, directing district and sessions judges to visit the Darul Aman concerned at least once every two months.
Justice Sheikh ordered the Punjab government to form women's protection committees in every district, mandated under the Women Protection Act 2016, and highlighted lapses in the implementation of the law. He noted that currently, only one such committee exists in Multan, operating without standard operating procedures (SOPs). The Punjab Women Protection Authority was directed to devise SOPs and activate committees across all districts.
The decision also includes orders for the Punjab government to draft rules for the management of child protection institutions within six months.
According to a Social Welfare Department report cited in the judgment, Darul Aman and Darul Falah shelters were initially established under the Punjab Government Rules of Business 2011. However, ambiguity persists regarding the legal framework under which the Federal Ministry of Women Development established crisis centers.
The court’s ruling aims to streamline operations, ensure compliance with legal frameworks, and improve the conditions in Darul Aman and child protection institutions across Punjab.
