The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has issued a directive to the Uttar Pradesh government to take immediate steps to fill the long-vacant positions of chairman and members of the UP State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. The court emphasized that the appointment process should be completed, preferably within four months.
Court Order and Background
A vacation bench comprising Justice Shekhar B Saraf and Justice AK Chaudhary passed the order while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Human Unity Movement. The bench stated, "We direct the state government to look into this aspect on a war-footing and appoint members and chairman expeditiously, preferably within a period of four months from date."
The petitioner had informed the court that since November 2024, the commission had been functioning without a chairman or members. With all positions in the commission remaining vacant, it has become completely non-functional, adversely affecting the protection of children's rights and the redressal of complaints related to child welfare. The petitioner further argued that the commission's inactivity has hampered the hearing, monitoring, and resolution of matters concerning child rights, making immediate appointments necessary.
Court's Observations
After hearing the parties, the bench observed that it was inappropriate for a statutory body established to safeguard children's rights to remain non-functional for such a long period. The court's order underscores the urgency of restoring the commission's functionality to ensure the protection of child rights in the state.
This development comes as a significant step towards addressing the concerns raised by child rights activists and organizations, who have been demanding the revival of the commission to handle cases of child abuse, exploitation, and other violations.
