Chairman selection-cum-oversight committee under the juvenile justice act, Justice (R) Hasnain Masoodi has tendered his resignation from the post. His resignation has come after the National Conference announced him its candidate for Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency.
Underthe integrated child protection scheme, a vehicle for the implementation of thejuvenile justice act –the Juvenile Justice Boards and the Child WelfareCommittees were formed last year. But the resignation of Justice Masoodi is asetback to the scheme that is still in its infancy.
Anofficial in the ICPS department said, “Yes Justice Masoodi has resigned fromthe position, and no chairperson has been appointed as yet.”
In2017, the state government constituted the selection-cum-oversight committee –the apex body for monitoring and evaluation of the ICPS.
Subsequently,Justice Masoodi, a former Judge of the Jammu and Kashmir, was appointed aschairman, selection-cum-oversight committee under the Juvenile Justice (Careand Protection of children) act 2013.
OnMonday, National Conference announced that Justice Masoodi will be itscandidate for the Anantnag parliamentary constituency. The Lok Sabha electionswill be held in Jammu and Kashmir in seven phases, beginning from April 11.Anantnag parliamentary seat will go to polls in three phases – April 23, 29 andMay 6.
“Hewas the force behind making the ICPS scheme functional. Be it taking cognizanceof the cases like illegal detention of juveniles in police lockups or of therecent case of a pregnant woman who delivered a baby on the roadside after shewas not allowed admission in a Srinagar hospital, he was following the juvenilejustice act in its true form,” said an official associated with JuvenileJustice.
“Nowwhen he has resigned, the scheme would definitely suffer,” the official added.
Afterjoining active politics, Justice Masoodi has also dissociated from the Group ofConcerned Citizens (GCC), to which he was a member.