The Jammu and Kashmir government is setting up a commission, first of its kind, for the protection of child rights in the state.
The commission will be a part of the state commission forwomen and will be framed under the Jammu and Kashmir state commission for womenand child rights act, 2018.
The legislation provides for the “constitution of a statecommission for protection of women and child rights.”
It also provides for speedy trial by the courts of theoffences against women and children or of violation of women and child rightsand for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Unlike other states in India, Jammu and Kashmir didn’t havea commission for the protection of child rights. The commission was establishedin rest of the states of India under the provision of the ‘commissions forprotection of child rights act 2005’.
As per the act, “The commission has the powers toinvestigate, examine and review all matters relating to the safeguard providedfor women and children rights under the constitution and any laws for the timebeing in force for their protection and recommend measures for their effectiveimplementation.”
The commission, as per the act, shall have power to inquireinto the complaints and take suo-moto notice of matters relating to deprivationand violation of women and child rights, non-implementation of laws enacted toprovide protection to women and children and also achieve the objective ofequality and development.
The commission, the act states, “shall not inquire into anymatter which is pending before any other commission duly constituted under anylaw for the time being in force.”
The commission, as per the act, has been provided the powersof a civil court and is required to submit an annual report to the stategovernment as well as special report when an issue needs immediate attention.
The commission will constitute of five members including thechairperson to be nominated by the government from amongst the eminent persons,who have done outstanding work for protection of women and children.