Why in news?

The delay in appointing the chairperson and members to the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has almost paralysed the key rights body in the State.

Highlights:

• The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights is without a full-time chairperson since December 2021, all six members retired in July 2022.
• With no members, and hence no quorum, the quasi-judicial authority, now led by an acting chairperson, is unable to pass any orders.
• According to KSCPCR data, 532 cases related to various child rights violations are pending. Among these, the highest number of cases pertains to the Right To Education (RTE) Act and transfer certificate (TC) and other issues concerning education.

Problems faced  by commission includes

• The commission is referring key cases pertaining to harassment, missing children, child marriage, and child labour to the Child Welfare Committees and cases pertaining to the RTE Act and TCs to the District Education Regulating Authority (DERA) at the district level for further action.
• Even though commission registered the high profile cases like Murugha matt of chitradurga, it has not conducted an inquiry and no further orders have been passed in these crucial cases.
• There are several complaints pertaining to the RTE Act pending with the commission.
• The law is clear that the chairperson should not be a member of any political party or have any association with political offices. As it turns out, however, association with the ruling party of the day has become the main qualification for the KSCPC.

About KSCPCR

• It is an independent statutory body formed under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 .The State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights have been created to safeguard the rights of children as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
• Commission constituted by the Government of Karnataka in July 2009.
• The Commission consists of a Chairperson  and six Members, and has been carrying out its activities  since 2009.
• Under Section 13 of the Act, the Commission has the rights to conduct enquires on the complaints received and under Section 14 of the Act, it also has the powers of a Civil Court while enquiring into cases related to child rights violations.
• The Commission can receive complaints and take suitable action on cases related to infringement/violation of child rights and it can also take action by registering complaints Suo-Moto.

Acts monitored by Commission

• Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009
• Monitoring the implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Acts
• Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act