The Supreme Court of India has directed the Centre as well as all the State/UT Governments to immediately set up ‘Children’s Rights Protection Commission’ (CRPC) in their respective regions so as to protect children against acts which breach their rights.

Orders to the above effect were passed by the apex Court while taking up a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed with regard to setting up CRPCs in all States and Union Territories so as to provide children guarantee about protection of their rights. A Bench comprising Justice Madhan Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta took up the PIL petition for interrogation before passing the orders.

“Union Ministry of Women & Child Development and the State Governments and UTs should jointly take efforts to set up a ‘National Children’s Rights Commission’ as well as ‘State Children’s Rights Commission’ at the earliest possible instance. The Commissions to come up should have enough manpower and infrastructure so as to function in a meaningful manner to benefit children from all walks of life.

“State Governments should set up Juvenile Courts and Children’s Rights Commission at the earliest without any undue duly so that not a single child is affected.  It would be the responsibility of the Chief Justice of High Courts in States to ensure that Juvenile Courts are set up in their respective territories,” the order passed by the apex Court said.