SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has granted the government a four-week extension to report on the establishment of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights, which has remained inactive since the reading down of Article 370. This decision follows a status report that revealed delays caused by a shortage of qualified candidates for key positions on the commission.
The extension was granted by the court’s division bench, chaired by Acting Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi, in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding judicial oversight in the commission’s formation.
Previously, the court had set a two-week deadline for the government to file a status report by July 24, warning that the Chief Secretary could face personal appearance if the deadline was missed. The commission, mandated under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Protection of Child Rights Act, is crucial for addressing child rights issues and violations.
Earlier this year, the court emphasised the importance of the commission’s establishment and requested regular updates. The extension underscores ongoing concerns about the commission’s formation, further complicated by the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.
In June 2023, the administration advertised for the appointment of a chairperson and six members, but the process has faced delays. A three-member selection panel, led by the Chief Secretary and including administrative secretaries from the Social Welfare and Law departments, was formed to oversee the appointments. The notice regarding these appointments has since been withdrawn.
