STATE COMMISSION FOR PROTECTION OF CHILD RIGHTS: 21 candidates shortlisted for chairperson, 28 for members: Govt tells HC

Srinagar, Aug 18: The government has informed the High Court of J&K and Ladakh about the candidates shortlisted for appointment of chairperson and members of State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

A fresh status report filed by the government through Senior Additional Advocate General (AAG), A R Malik indicated that out of 548 applications received by the authorities for the post of chairperson, 21 candidates have been shortlisted for the post as per the eligibility criteria set out in the advertisement issued in June 2023.

Moreover, the report divulged that 28 candidates have been shortlisted for the post of members.

A division bench of Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal which was hearing a Public Interest litigation (PIL) seeking the court’s intervention for the appointment of Chairperson and the members of the commission adjourned the matter for six weeks after the senior AAG sought time to apprise the court about “further development in the matter pertaining to State Commission for protection of child rights.

In an earlier order the Court had observed that despite its repeated orders passed, the Commission for Protection of Child Rights, in terms of Section 44 of the Protection of the Child from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 had not been constituted. The Commission is to be set up in keeping with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act, read with the Protection of Child Rights Act, and would have the power to inquire into the complaints and take suo moto notice of matters relating to deprivation and violation of child rights.

Considering the statutory role assigned to the Commission for effective implementation of the Act, non-constitution would be a serious lapse on the part of the authorities concerned, the Court had said. Before issuing specific directions in this regard, the court had directed authorities to place on record the steps taken for the constitution of the Commission.