J&K kickstarts process to appoint chairperson, members of Child Rights Commission

Srinagar:  Jammu and Kashmir government has kicked off the process to appoint the chairperson and members of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

As per a document available with The Kashmir Monitor, the government has invited applications for the appointment of chairperson and members of the commission.

Headed by a chairperson, the commission will have six members, who primarily will formulate and implement child welfare policies and schemes in the union territory.

Out of the six members, the government has set the condition of having two females on the commission.

In October last year, the government announced about constituting a commission for protecting child rights in the union territory.

 So far, the Centre has successfully set up the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCRs) in all the states except Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

In December last year, the government constituted a committee with Chief Secretary as chairperson and Administrative Secretary, Social Welfare Department, and Secretary, Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs as the members, to appoint the members of the commission.

An official told The Kashmir Monitor, that all the processes related to the setting up of the commission have been completed.

“Rules and regulations have been already worked upon by the social welfare department under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act 2005. Now the appointment of the chairperson and members of the commission is left. The process for their appointment has begun. In the coming two months we will be having a commission in Jammu and Kashmir which will work for the welfare of children,” he said.

 The official said the commission will act as an independent statutory body tasked with monitoring and overseeing the implementation of child rights laws, policies, and programs in Jammu and Kashmir.

“It will work towards addressing issues related to child protection, education, health, nutrition, and overall well-being. The commission will also have the authority to inquire into complaints and take appropriate action against violations of child rights,” he said.

Once established, the Commission for Protection of Child Rights shall function full-time as an independent and autonomous body. The chairperson and members of the commission shall hold the office for three years or till they attain the age of 65 and 60 years, respectively.

As per the document, the commission will study union territory policies that impact children and ensure that they comply with international child rights standards.  

“It will present to the Union Territory Government, National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights and other Union Territory Commissions annually and such other intervals, as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards,” the official document said.

The commission will undertake a formal investigation only when concern is expressed either by children or by a concerned person on their behalf.

The commission will promote the incorporation of child rights into the school curriculum, teacher training, and training of personnel dealing with children. “It will refer cases and issues of national and inter-Union Territory importance to the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights as and when required,” the document said.

The commission, as per the act, shall have the powers of a civil court and is required to submit an annual report to the state government as well.