‘Commission head, members to be appointed on recommendations of 3-member panel; statutory body to analyze impact of polices, legislations on children’
SNS KASHMIR
Faizan Wani
SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 06 :
The administration of Jammu & Kashmir has unveiled the draft rules for establishing child rights panel in the Union Territory.
The draft rules, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), define the procedure for appointment of chairperson and members of the statutory body to be constituted under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act-2005.
The Jammu & Kashmir Commission for Protection of Child Rights Rules- 2021 have been framed under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act-2005.
According to the rules, the chairperson and the members of the commission shall be appointed on the recommendation of a three -member selection committee constituted by the government under the chairmanship of the Minister of Social Welfare.
The rules unambiguously state that no person having any past record of violation of human rights or child rights shall be eligible for appointment as chairperson or member of the commission. “No person having been convicted and sentenced for imprisonment of an offence which in the opinion of the Government involves moral turpitude, shall be eligible for appointment as chairperson or member of the commission,” the Rules State
According to the Rules, no person having been removed or dismissed from service of the central government or a Union Territory Government or a body or corporation owned or controlled by the central government or a Union Territory Government shall be eligible for appointment as chairperson or member of the commission.
The commission, according to rules, shall analyze existing law, policy and practice to assess compliance with Convention on the Rights of the 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.
It shall undertake formal investigations where concern has been expressed either by children themselves or by concerned person on their behalf.
The panel shall study Union Territory policies that impact children and ensure that they comply with international child rights standards.
The commission shall refer cases and issues of national and inter-Union Territory importance to the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights as and when required—(KNO)