The Delhi High Court, on Monday, chastised the Delhi government for its “callousness” in not filling vacancies in the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR), which has been non-functional since July 2023. The bench, comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, ordered that the process be expedited and completed within a strict timeframe.
The court observed that the absence of a fully functional DCPCR has significantly impacted the safeguarding of children’s rights in the capital. With the DCPCR lying dormant, critical issues such as child rights protection have been sidelined, impacting the most vulnerable.
In addition to addressing the DCPCR’s staffing issues, the court also turned its attention to the broader child welfare system. It expressed concern over the increasing menace of substance abuse among children and ordered the prompt selection of members for the District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), with a deadline set for the next eight weeks.
The court’s frustration was palpable as it highlighted the government’s failure to adhere to previous orders. “Three months’ time was given in October last year. Six months have lapsed. Not a single day is possible in terms of the earlier order. You are already in contempt,” Chief Justice Upadhyaya remarked during the proceedings.
This directive follows recent actions taken by the court concerning other child welfare bodies. Just last week, the court was informed that vacancies in the Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) and Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) had been filled, a move that was long overdue.
The government’s slow response to such critical vacancies has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, including NGOs like Bachpan Bachao Andolan, represented by senior advocate H S Phoolka and advocate Prabhsahay Kaur. They have been vocal in pushing for quicker resolutions to ensure that the capital’s child protection mechanisms are not just functional but effective.
