Sunitha Krishnan of Prajwala has moved Telangana High Court, seeking a direction to the government to constitute Child Welfare Committees CWCs) in 23 districts of the State.
Filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea on the matter, she contended that the State government’s failure of not forming new committees amounted to violation of basic human rights. It is mandatory to constitute CWCs under section 27 (1) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act-2015.
It should comprise a chairperson and four members (government may appoint at least one woman member and another expert on child issues). The committees are legally competent bodies and have powers of a first class magistrate.
Out of the 33 districts in Telanagna, 10 undivided districts have the committees. These 10 bodies were given additional charge of the newly-carved out 23 districts. Overburdened with cases, these 10 bodies were unable to attend to all the matters, the petitioner said.
Members of the present committees are continuing for nearly 10 years. This is in violation of section 27 (6) of the Act. Ms. Krishnan stated in the plea that many of these members were directly or indirectly linked with other child care institutions. This too was a violation of the provisions of the Act.
Absence of the CWCs was seriously affecting care, protection and rehabilitation of children rescued from different situations, the petitioner said.
