Supreme Court says need to gauge financial stability of parents, guardians taking care of children from shelter homes

The Supreme Court on Monday said there is a need for finding out the financial stability of parents/guardians of children who have been restored from child care institutions due to Covid-19 pandemic. The Court was hearing the suo motu case initiated by it in order to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus to child care institutions (CCIs), including children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with the law in observation homes and children in foster and kinship care.

A bench of Justice L. Nageswara Rao and Justice S. Ravindra Bhat directed the State governments to gather information from social welfare departments and other authorities and provide the same to the Amicus Curiae within 2 weeks.

During the hearing on Monday, the Court observed that it had directed State governments to consult district child protection units that provide children with facilities required to provide online classes.

Following which, 18 States responded and submitted information to the Amicus Curiae. The Court has granted two weeks time to States who haven’t filed affidavits.

Time to time, the court had issued directions in this matter. Previously, on 09.10.2020, the Court took note of the letter issued by the Senior Consultant, Legal Division, National Commission for Protection for Children Rights (NCPCR) to all District Magistrates/Collectors of the State of Karnataka directing repatriation and restoration of children placed in children protection homes.

In another connected writ petition, the Court had asked all State governments to provide information related to the number of child victims/witnesses of human trafficking who are required to depose in courts at places other than those residing outside the States.

“One district may be identified by each State Government/ Union Territory for establishing Video Conferencing facility for recording evidence of children/ victims of human trafficking. The State Government’s are directed to file the Status Reports within four weeks from today,”

-said the Apex Court.

The Supreme Court bench had taken suo motu cognizance on April 3, 2020 and had passed a slew of directions to the States to Registrar General of every High Court.

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The Court had directed the States and Union Territories to ensure that the copy of the order with translated version shall be sent to all the CWCs and CCIs. The Court had also directed to Registrar General of all the High Courts to forward it to the Principal Magistrates presiding over the JJBs and presiding officers of the Children Courts. It further directed the Registrar General of every High Court to place the order before the Chairperson of JJC of every High Court.

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