<p>The state Social Welfare Department has ordered the closure of the children’s home, run by “Grail Trust (India),” floated by the UK-based Jonathan Robinson, after the police registered an FIR against the centre for allegedly sexually abusing some children there through unnatural modes.<br /><br />Official sources told Deccan Herald on Tuesday that the children’s home was shut down on Monday evening. The children, comprising around 23 boys and 10 girls, studying in various classes, were shifted to another children’s home in Tirunelveli town.<br /><br />The impugned child care centre has been functioning for over ten years now. In recent months there had been complaints of “sexual abuse”of children against its founder Jonathan Robinson and some others, the sources said.<br /><br />Activities monitored <br /><br />A Bangalore-based NGO has been monitoring the activities of the child care centre. It had apprised the authorities in the UK about the goings on at the children’s home . <br /><br />It later submitted a report to District Social Welfare authorities. Based on it, an FIR has been registered against Jonathan Robinson under Section 377 of IPC, a legal section which prohibits “same-sex and related offences” that are “against the order of nature.”<br /><br />While Jonathan Robinson is currently not in India and believed to be in the UK , the sources said the case was being investigated. The police are likely to issue a look-out notice for him through diplomatic channels. <br /><br />Since the “Child Care Centre” was very popular with a large number of students staying there, the development has come as a shock to locals.<br /><br />The Delhi High Court in a historic judgment in July 2009 had “read down” Section 377 of IPC “to decriminalise same-sex behaviour among consenting adults.” But this legal provision continues to be valid in case of offences involving minors and coercive same-sex activities.</p>
<p>The state Social Welfare Department has ordered the closure of the children’s home, run by “Grail Trust (India),” floated by the UK-based Jonathan Robinson, after the police registered an FIR against the centre for allegedly sexually abusing some children there through unnatural modes.<br /><br />Official sources told Deccan Herald on Tuesday that the children’s home was shut down on Monday evening. The children, comprising around 23 boys and 10 girls, studying in various classes, were shifted to another children’s home in Tirunelveli town.<br /><br />The impugned child care centre has been functioning for over ten years now. In recent months there had been complaints of “sexual abuse”of children against its founder Jonathan Robinson and some others, the sources said.<br /><br />Activities monitored <br /><br />A Bangalore-based NGO has been monitoring the activities of the child care centre. It had apprised the authorities in the UK about the goings on at the children’s home . <br /><br />It later submitted a report to District Social Welfare authorities. Based on it, an FIR has been registered against Jonathan Robinson under Section 377 of IPC, a legal section which prohibits “same-sex and related offences” that are “against the order of nature.”<br /><br />While Jonathan Robinson is currently not in India and believed to be in the UK , the sources said the case was being investigated. The police are likely to issue a look-out notice for him through diplomatic channels. <br /><br />Since the “Child Care Centre” was very popular with a large number of students staying there, the development has come as a shock to locals.<br /><br />The Delhi High Court in a historic judgment in July 2009 had “read down” Section 377 of IPC “to decriminalise same-sex behaviour among consenting adults.” But this legal provision continues to be valid in case of offences involving minors and coercive same-sex activities.</p>
