HC orders inspection of child care institutions in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh

SEEKS ACTION TAKEN REPORTS BY JAN 18; SAYS STATES MUST ACT AGAINST FACILITIES THAT ARE UNREGISTERED

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court has ordered inspection of all child care institutions running in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. The high court bench of justice Surya Kant was hearing a batch of petitions on the issue of child abuse and state of child care centres in both the states and Chandigarh.

“There is no gain-saying that the Commission for Protection of Child Rights, the Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) as well as the Juvenile Justice Boards are obligated under the statute with an onerous duty to periodically monitor functioning of child care institutions in every district,” the high court bench said adding that the commissions for both the states as well as UT, Chandigarh would prepare a list of all the registered and unregistered child care institutions; get the same inspected and prepare a report on deficiencies, if any.

Seeking action taken reports by January 18, 2019, the high court bench directed that the reports prepared would be submitted to the principal secretaries of respective governments and the adviser to the UT administration, within two months and they would take requisite steps for improvement and efficient functioning of these institutions. They have been asked to act against those unregistered.

The order was passed after advocate Anil Malhotra, amicus curiae in this case, had told court that, in August, the Supreme Court had passed an order reminding the states of their responsibilities towards the functioning of child welfare institutions.

Various institutions set up under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, have failed to discharge their duties, Malhotra had told court, referring to cases reported in media of child abuse in these institutes. The court also asked both states to complete the process of filling up posts of members of the child welfare committees as well as juvenile justice boards.

Earlier, Punjab had told court that child welfare committees in all the districts are now functional. Haryana had apprised the court that 11 persons had been appointed against 22 posts of chairpersons of CWCs while for 88 posts of members, 67 had been appointed. Juvenile Justice Boards have 44 members, of which 34 have been filled, the court was told.