* Parents, teachers now need to be cautious
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 22: For the first time in the history, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has given nod to the constitution of an independent Child Rights Commission, for which the new rules have been framed.
The new rules framed by the Lt Governor’s Administration in J&K UT will pave a way for setting up of new Child Rights Commission headed by a Chairperson and will have minimum two members shortly. The Commission will strongly deal with the complaints related to exploitation, harassment and atrocities on the children and the protection of their rights in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The new rules shall comply with the International child rights standards, sending a caution note to the teachers and parents as well while dealing with the children in the Union Territory.
Official sources said the rules may be called as the Jammu and Kashmir Commission for Protection of Child Rights Rules, 2022. For the purpose of appointment of Chairperson, Members and Member Secretary of the new Commission, the Government is going to constitute a three member Selection Committee shortly, they added.
Any person having more than 35 years of age with vast experience (minimum 10 years) of dealing with child rights/ violation of human rights, with good background will be eligible for the post of Chairperson or Member of the Commission. No person having been convicted and sentenced for an offence which in the opinion of Government involves moral turpitude shall be eligible for appointment as Chairperson or Member of the Commission.
The Rules further stated that no person having been removed or dismissed from service or the Central/ State/UT Government or a body or Corporation owned or controlled by the Central Govt or a State/UT Government shall be eligible for appointment as Chairperson or Member of the Commission. Even the Chairperson or Member should not be a Member of Parliament or Legislature of any State/UT and not hold any office of trust or profit other than his/ her office as Chairperson or Member. The three member-selection committee shall invite applications and conduct interviews of the candidates and recommend selection list to the Government for approval, sources added.
The Commission shall function full time as an independent and autonomous body. The term of the Chairperson will be of three years or till he/she attains the age of 65, whichever is earlier. The term of the member will also be of three years, or till he/she attains the age of 60 years, whichever is earlier. A person who has held the office of Chairperson/ Member shall be eligible for re-appointment, provided that a person who has held an office of Chairperson or Member for two terms in any capacity, shall not be eligible for re-appointment for third term.
The salary and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of the service of the Commission members and other employees shall be such as may be determined by the Government from time to time.
Besides dealing with the complaints related to violation of child rights, the Commission will also analyse existing law policy and practice to assess compliance with convention on the rights of child, undertake inquiries and produce reports on any aspect of policy and practice affecting children and comment on proposed new legislation from a child rights perspective; study Union Territory policies that impact children and ensure that they comply with international child rights standards; undertake formal investigations where concern has been expressed either by children themselves or by concerned person on their behalf; produce and disseminate information about child rights, compile and analyse date on children; promote the incorporation of child rights into the school curriculum, teachers training and training of personnel dealing with children; make regional visits and hold public meetings at least once in every year in all regions of the UT, besides others.
The Commission shall function in Kashmir and Jammu Zone and receive complaints in English, Urdu, Hindi or any of the languages included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India. No fee shall be charged on the complaints. Every complaint should disclose a complete picture on the matter, disclose the name and place/ address of the respondent. Commission may dismiss the complaints if illegible, vague or anonymous, trivial or frivolous; issues lated to civil disputes, service matter or industrial disputes or if the matter is sub- judice before a court of tribunal. The Commission shall maintain a Common Register called as Child Rights Petition Register (CRPR), it said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
