The Chhattisgarh High Court has directed that the counselling report of a 12-year-old girl, allegedly sexually assaulted while living with her foster sister and brother-in-law in Baikunthpur, be submitted in a sealed cover. The court has also ordered that the girl and her nine-year-old brother remain under the care of child welfare authorities until the next hearing scheduled for July 2.

The matter reached the High Court after the girl's foster elder sister filed a habeas corpus petition, claiming that the two children had been unlawfully kept by child protection authorities. During the proceedings, however, the state informed the court that the children had been placed under protective care following serious allegations of physical abuse and sexual assault.

According to official records presented before the court, the nine-year-old boy is currently housed at the Child Welfare Centre in Baikunthpur, Koriya district, while the 12-year-old girl has been shifted to a government girls' home in Ambikapur for her safety.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal directed the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to produce both children before the court during the hearing.

The state informed the Bench that the siblings, who had lost their parents, had been living with a woman they regarded as their elder sister and her husband. During their stay, the children were allegedly subjected to physical and mental abuse. Unable to bear the alleged harassment, they reportedly fled the house and sought shelter with an acquaintance.

The matter was subsequently reported to the police and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), which arranged counselling for the children and placed them under protection.

During the counselling sessions, the girl allegedly disclosed that her foster brother-in-law had sexually assaulted her. Authorities also learned that her younger brother had allegedly been subjected to repeated abuse. Based on the complaint, police registered a case against the accused and arrested him. The investigation is continuing.

While hearing the matter, the High Court observed that the welfare and psychological well-being of the children must remain the highest priority. In compliance with the court's directions, Koriya Collector Roktima Yadav, Ambikapur Additional Collector Ram Singh Thakur and officials of the Women and Child Development Department produced the siblings before the Bench.

The court directed that the counselling of the children be conducted at the State Judicial Academy instead of inside the courtroom. The sessions were held under the supervision of senior advocate Naushina Ali, Director of the State Judicial Academy.

Following the interaction with the children, the counsellor has been instructed to submit her findings to the High Court in a sealed envelope. Until further orders, both siblings will continue to stay in child welfare institutions to ensure their safety and well-being.

The case will come up for further hearing on July 2, when the High Court is expected to consider the sealed counselling report and decide the next course of action.