SC orders formation of CWCs and JJBs for children in each district within 6 weeks

New Delhi, Jan. 22 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Friday directed the government to ensure implementation of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.

The apex court made its direction acting on public interest litigation (PIL) filed by child rights group, Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) on child labour and trafficking of children for forced labour.

The JJ Act deals with the provisions related to all children in need of care and protection including the neglected children, trafficked children as well as children in conflict with the law.

The act is one of the most comprehensive laws in the country dealing with the rescue, repatriation and rehabilitation of child labourers, creation and running of short-stay homes for children, and even matters pertaining to privacy of children.

A division bench of Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice A K Patnaik said that we have to look towards the enforcement of child rights laws.

The court directed the government to ensure that all provisions relating to the Act are complied with this, including formation of Child Welfare Committees (CWC) and Juvenile Justice Boards (JJB), in each district and appointment of Special Juvenile Police Officers (SJPO) to ensure law enforcement within the next six weeks.

Appearing on the behalf of BBA, senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves said that this was a huge step in favour of child rights and keeps the ball rolling towards law enforcement.

Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium informed the court that the government was planning to come out with a notification banning child labour in circuses any day, and was also looking at overall dimensions of child rights.

Meanwhile, BBAChairperson R S Chaurasia, welcomed the step and said that it wsa really encouraging that the court has decided to hear this petition every Friday and is looking at the entire dimension of child labour, child trafficking, and child rights.

The court has also appointed National Commission of Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) as nodal agency for monitoring of today's order and reporting the same to the court. (ANI)