Srinagar: The UT government has informed the J&K and Ladakh High Court that the shortlisting of candidates has been completed for the selection of the chairperson and members of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
The information was submitted in compliance with a 2020 public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the constitution of a State Commission for Child Rights Protection in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
With reference to an order dated June 30, 2025, Senior Additional Advocate General A.R. Malik furnished a fresh status report before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal.
According to the report, out of 548 applications received by the authorities, 21 applicants have been shortlisted for the post of chairperson of the Commission, as per the eligibility criteria set out in the advertisement.
“Further, 28 applicants have been shortlisted for the post of members,” the report stated.
However, with reference to certain other directions issued by the court on the PIL, the government counsel submitted that “the proceedings be deferred by six weeks” to apprise the court of any further developments in the matter.
The matter was then listed for September 30, 2025.
The court, much to its displeasure, has already granted the government several opportunities regarding the constitution of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights in the region, in terms of Section 44 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
At one stage, the court “requested” the Secretary to the Government, Social Welfare Department, to appear before it, who then joined the proceedings virtually and presented his viewpoint.
The Commission is to be set up in accordance with the POCSO Act, read with the Protection of Child Rights Act. It will have the authority to inquire into complaints and take suo motu cognizance of matters relating to the deprivation and violation of child rights.
