Court summons CCpur Child Welfare Committee and District Child Protection Unit chairpersons
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 19 2017:
The Division Bench, High Court of Manipur, directed the chairpersons of Child Welfare Committee, Churachandpur and District Child Protection Unit, to be present before the High Court of Manipur on October 4 with a detailed report as to how they have been monitoring the welfare of the children under their jurisdiction with special emphasis on the funds sanctioned by the State Government for the welfare of victim children .
The direction was given by the Division Bench High Court of Manipur comprising of Acting Chief Justice, N Kotiswar and Justice Kh Nobin, after the hearing PIL number 9 of 2015, Registrar General, High Court of Manipur versus State of Manipur and four others .
During the PIL hearing yesterday, Samuel D Sungte and Lalthienzon, were present in person in pursuant to the earlier direction to appear before the Court with all necessary documents as to how Rs 1.2 lakh, sanctioned for each of the two victim girls by the State Government, have been spent .
Samuel D Sungte and Lalthienzo submitted that they were not given any direction by any authority about keeping an account on how to spend the money and also did not have any documents to support how the funds have been spent .
They submitted that Rs 10,000 each, are still lying in their respective bank accounts .
The Division Bench directed that the amount which are still in their respective accounts, out of the Rs 1.2 lakh sanctioned by the State Government, shall not be withdrawn without the leave of the High Court and also directed both individuals to appear before the Court on October 4 with the details of articles purchased by next date, even if these are not supported by any voucher or receipt, to justify how the funds sanctioned in the name of two victim girls were spent .
The order mentioned that the Court have noted that there is nothing on record to show the involvement of the District Child Protection Unit nor the Child Welfare Committee, Churachandpur, at the time and after the sanctioned amount were disbursed to the victim girls .
The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2005 and 2015, provide various functions and duties assigned to the Chief Welfare Committees as well as the District Child Protection Units and there are specific provisions under the Act to continue to monitor the status and conditions of the children who are under the jurisdiction of the Child Welfare Committees, the order mentioned .
The Division Bench directed the Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee, Churachandpur as well as the District Child Protection Unit , to be present before the High Court of Manipur, on October 4, with detailed report as to how the welfare of the children under their jurisdiction have been monitored regarding the amount sanctioned .
The Court order further mentioned that on September 8, the Division Bench had directed Member Secretary, Manipur Legal Service Authority, to submit a report regarding the remaining four victims, for whom the State Government has not sanctioned any compensation on the ground that there were no FIRs nor medical reports nor any other documents regarding the victims .
It has been stated that Member Secretary, Manipur Legal Service Authority, has not received the order copy passed by the Division Bench on September 8 .
Hence, the Division Bench also directed the order passed yesterday as well as on September 8 to the Member Secretary , for compliance and to submit the report by the next date of the PIL hearing, October 4 .
Comment
