Srinagar, Mar 03: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh directed Director, Mission Vatsalya, Department of Social Welfare, J&K, to produce the result of candidates for the post of members of Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) and chairperson and members of Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) in a “sealed cover” before it on March 09.
A division bench comprising Justices Rajnesh Oswal and Mohan Lal passed the direction in an application filed by the Director, Mission Vatsalya, Department of Social Welfare J&K, seeking permission to finalize the selection list/appointment of candidates for the post of Member of JJBs and chairperson and members of CWCs.
The court issued notice to the other side which was waived by counsel Syed Musaib, appearing for the petitioner-non-applicant.
The court directed the counsel to file response within a period of one week after he sought time to file response.
“In the meanwhile, the Director, Mission Vatsalya, Department of Social Welfare, J&K, shall produce the result in a sealed cover before this court on the next date of hearing,” the court said.
The bench also issued notice to the concerned Director in an application suggesting five recommendations for the protection of children from abuse and exploitation in J&K.
The court directed the concerned Director to respond to the recommendations suggested in the application and listed the matter for hearing on March 09.
The applicant had sought to place on record recommendations regarding the protection of the children from abuse and exploitation in J&K.
The court was hearing a batch of Public Interest Litigations (PILs) related to the working of the JJBs, CWCs under J&K Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.
In a previous hearing, the court had directed the government to update the status and ensure adherence to the scheme of law for spreading awareness related to the child abuse by use of all the available forums and technologies.
Regarding the appointment of members of JJBs, CWCs, the court had asked the authorities to go ahead with the selection process of the members of the CWCs and JJBs while observing that some petitions pending before it or orders passed therein stalling the process for selecting the members of CWCs or JJBs wouldn’t come in the way of the selecting authority for proceeding in the matter.
“However, before finalizing the same, appropriate motion shall be filed in these PILs so as to enable this Court to decide those writ petitions along with these PILs for appropriate orders,” the court had said.
