The boy spent a month with the kids who were mentally disabled and is also undergoing treatment now, she said.

'It is a very sensitive issue and we just can't repay the cost that boy has suffered because of the lax procedures. In certain cases, detention of such children can be avoided,' the bench said.

'It's high time now and we should stop this blame game. Everybody is critical of each other and in this we cannot move forward. There is an urgent need of improvement in the procedure as such abuse is a complete destruction of childhood,' the bench said while asking the secretary of the social welfare department to appear in person Aug 19, the next date of hearing.

The court also asked the government why these children cannot be given formal education.

Gupta replied the government will take steps in this direction too and will start imparting formal education along with the vocational training that they are currently providing.