By IANS
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked the government to constitute a State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) – an agency any abused child in the capital could approach directly.
A bench headed by Chief Justice M.K. Sharma asked the Delhi government to initiate the process of constituting the commission at the earliest.
“Constituting a commission will bring smiles to thousands of children who were facing abuse at every step,” said the bench while asking the government to take up the matter seriously.
Once it is set up, a child can directly report any abuse to the commission.
Gaurav Duggal, appearing on behalf of the central government, informed the court that it was ready to give the necessary powers to the Delhi government.
The commission, comprising six people, would be empowered to launch an inquiry into any violation of child rights, and protect children requiring special care, minors in distress, juveniles, children in conflict with law, and those affected by HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, riots, communal violence and terrorism.
The proposed panel would be on the lines of the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child to which India is a signatory.
A 2005 law calls for the setting up of a panel at the national level too.
The commission members would include leading figures from the fields of education, child health, juvenile justice, elimination of child labour, child psychology and laws relating to children.
The bench also directed the government to take steps to constitute a ‘children’s court’ – also envisaged in the 2005 law – in each district for “speedy trial of offences against children or cases relating to child rights”.
Indo-Asian News Service