Srinagar, Aug 17: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has recommended creation of a separate child rights body for Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory.
According to the report that lies with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Jammu & Kashmir government has been requested to constitute the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR).
“Secretary, Social Welfare was requested to constitute the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) as per Section 17 of Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005,” reads the report based on NCPCR’s visit to J&K on March 11 and 12 this year.
A high-level team of NCPCR comprising its chairperson Priyank Kanoongo, member secretary Rupali Banerjee Singh and experts visited J&K to review the status of child rights in the UT and to conduct inter-departmental review cum consultation meeting with the administration.
Ahead of its formal bifurcation into two Union Territories on October 31 last year, the Jammu and Kashmir government winded up the State Commission for Protection of Women and Child Rights.
“Consequent upon repeal of the Jammu and Kashmir State Commission for Protection of Women & Child Rights Act, 2018 by the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, sanction is hereby accorded to the winding up of Jammu & Kashmir State Commission for Protection of Women & Child Rights with effect from 31-10-2019 i.e. the appointed date for the formation of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh,” reads the government order, as per KNO.
It also ordered that the chairperson of the women and child rights panel shall cease to hold office from October 31.
During Governor’s rule in 2018, a law was enacted for establishing a body for protecting women and child rights panel. Noted supreme court lawyer, Vasundhra Masoodi Pathak was appointed as its first chairperson.
