Coming down heavily on Tamil Nadu government for failing to fill the post of Chairperson of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, the Madras High Court has warned that the Secretary to the government shall have to remain personally present in the court if the position was not filled in two months.
Passing an interim order yesterday on a PIL by A Narayanan, Director of Change India, an NGO, the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan, said that “during the last occasion, the Government Pleader assured the court that the process of filling up the post would be completed within two months.
“The period had already elapsed, though reluctantly we accede to the request with condition that if this time schedule is not adhered to, the Secretary concerned to the government shall remain personally present in court.”
The petition sought to regulate the Child Welfare Home’s in Tamil Nadu.
After going through the affidavits filed by the State Commissioner for Protection of Child Rights and the Department of Social Welfare and Nutritious Meals Scheme with regard to non-filling up of the position of Chairperson, the court observed “the affidavit of the State Commissioner for Protection of Child Rights disclosed that the tenure of the Chairperson of the Tamil Nadu Commission for Protection of Child Rights expired with effect from 17.01.2016.”
“Five months have elapsed and there is no movement in that behalf. Such a post cannot be kept vacant”, the court said.
The bench posted the matter for further hearing to September two.
( Source – PTI )
