HC issues notice to GSLA, seeks response on plea seeking effective implementation of child protection laws

The oral order of the court also pointed out that the State Commission constituted under the Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005, “after the intervention by this court in the present petition,” is “required to initiate the Social Audit for the year 2025-2026 in accordance with the scheme of the Act, 2015, and to ensure its completion on or before March 2026”. The court order also clarified that the social audit must be conducted in respect of the institutions established under the Juvenile Justice Act such as Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), Juvenile Justice Boards (JJ Boards), and Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPUs), Children Homes, Specialized Adoption Agencies, Open Shelter/Shelter Homes, Observations Homes and Special Homes.

The court order also said that “it is the duty of the State Commission to monitor and oversee the entire process of Social Audit.” The progress in the case will have to be placed before the HC on the next date of hearing on December 12.

The court order also noted that in the written submissions filed by the petitioners, issues were raised with regard to implementation of directions given by the Supreme Court in previous cases as well as other issues that require the intervention of the court to fulfill the objectives and purposes of the Juvenile Justice Act and other laws, “to protect the rights of the children”, especially the working of the statutory bodies created under the scheme.

The petition has flagged the issue of protocol for rehabilitation of children in institutions as well as vacant positions in panels created to protect children’s rights as well as Juvenile Justice Committees in many districts.