What is in news : The Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued the notification for draft amendments to Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules, 2016, and invited feedback.

Proposed amendments

• Transfer of authority to district magistrates (DM) and additional district magistrates (ADM) in several cases – such as for adoption and overseeing childcare institutions and welfare of children in need of care, including children in conflict with law.
• DMs and ADMs will oversee actions taken with respect to child marriage cases in their respective districts and facilitate action for education and awareness regarding impact of child marriage on children. They are also to ensure supervision and support to girls and boys saved from child marriage
• Child Welfare Committee (CWC) will now furnish data relating to children declared legally free for adoption and cases pending for decision to DMs and online, in formats provided in adoption regulations, and also to the respective state adoption resource agencies with the assistance of district child protection units
• Functions of the court, including procedure for obtaining adoption order, have been transferred to DMs, and courts will no longer be involved in the process, under the draft amendments.
• Where the child has remained with a foster family for a minimum five years, other than in pre-adoption foster care, the foster family may now apply for adoption and will be given preference to adopt the child after she/he is declared legally free for adoption, and after registering in the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System under procedures laid down in adoption regulations.
• Childcare institutions or specialised adoption agencies housing children who have been declared legally free for adoption are to submit reports to the DM concerned every month about the number of children declared legally free for adoption, as also their status. In cases where a specialised adoption agency falls within jurisdiction of two districts, it is required to submit its monthly report to DMs of both districts.