PIL Filed in Telangana High Court on CWCs for 23 Telangana Districts

(Judicial Quest News Service) A non-governmental organization PRAJWALA brings into the notice of High Court stating  that only 10 CWC committees exists in 10 districts of Telangana

A well-established anti trafficking organization known as PRAJWALA represented by its General Secretary Dr. Sunitha Krishnan, established in 1996 has filed a PIL in Telangana High Court seeking direction to state government to constitute child welfare committees in all new 23 Districts in the state.

The petitioner contends in petition that it is aggrieved by the inaction of the Respondent (Govt.of Telangana).

In all the 23 new districts of Telangana and illegally extending the term of office of the existing Child Welfare Committees without forming new committees and not following mandate Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 thereby not providing all the needs and facilities to the minor children and protecting their basic human rights and in violation of Article 15, 36(e) (f), 45 and 47 of the Constitution of India as arbitrary and illegal.

These child welfare committees were legally competent bodies with power of first class magistrate and were the first to respond to any child in need and care and protection for a particular district, it noted.

As per Section 27 (1) of the Act 2015, establishment of child welfare committees was mandatory.

Besides this no person should be appointed for more than three years as member of the committee. However the existing committees have been functioning for the past 10 years and the tenure of its members were being extended.

The petitioner further contends that many of the existing members of the child welfare committees are directly or indirectly connected with other child care institutions which are in violation of the Juvenile Justice Act.

Absence of the CWC was seriously affecting care, protection and rehabilitation of the rescued from different situations, said the petitioner.