Report No. 64

4.31. In one suggestion1 relating to the definition of "protective home", the following re-draft of the definition has been suggested:-

"Protective home" means an institution, by whatever name called, in which girls may be kept in pursuance of section 17."

The reason given in support of the suggested amendment is, that one of the most unsatisfactory features of this Act is that girls who are rescued under the Act are required to be kept in the same institutions in which common prostitutes convicted under the Act for various offences are to be kept. It is stated that even if the institutional arrangements are perfect enough to avoid contamination and to provide adequate training, it would be difficult to create the same confidence in the girl, if she is kept in the same institution as prostitutes. The "protective" homes should be entirely protective. These should be specialised training institutions, working for the rehabilitation of rescued girls. We are in broad agreement with this approach.

1. Suggestion of the Central Bureau of Correctional Services.

4.32. As regards tinder-trial females mentioned in the present definition of "protective home", it is urged in the same suggestion1 that, on practical considerations, one has to be reconciled to the idea that the court would have to use the female wards of jails for keeping under-trials. If such wards are good enough for being used even for political and security prisoners and-for all other types of female under-trials, then, there is no reason why they should be considered unsuitable for purposes of the Act. We are not, however, inclined to accept this view. In our opinion, it is undesirable to keep together under-trials and girls rescued under the Act. Out of the former, some may be criminals, while out of the latter, most would be victims. In dealing with this problem, the character and category of rescued girls and the object of rescue should be borne in mind.

1. Para. 4.31, supra.