The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : CWC II stops sittings over ‘interference’

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Sunday, Jun 28, 2009
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CWC II stops sittings over ‘interference’

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: Lack of clarity in the jurisdictional powers of the Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) appointed in all districts with magisterial powers and the judiciary had resulted in one of the two committees in Bangalore boycotting their regular weekly sittings.

Santhosh Vaz, who heads CWC II, said the specific trigger for the decision was the “interference of the courts” in a matter relating to the custody of a child even as it was being investigated by the CWC.

Ms. Vaz has written to the Department of Women and Child Development (DWDC) to “make it clear where the role of CWC ends and the role of judiciary begins.”

She told The Hindu that there was “no point in having a Juvenile Justice Act if the role of the CWC was not clear.” She added that it was “impossible to work under such pressure.”

Ms. Vaz said there had been other instances of people involved in cases being investigated by the CWC approaching the court in an effort to undermine the decision of CWC.

Sources in the DWDC said they were in receipt of Ms. Vaz’s letter and the matter would be settled amicably “after speaking to the advocates concerned.”

Meanwhile, CWC I would hold its regular sitting on Monday.

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