Child Panel Seeks Report From West Bengal For Action Taken Against Child Marriages

The NCPCR letter stated that though out of the 4001 cases, 2939 child marriages were stopped, information on FIRs registered and injunction orders issued in cases were not available.

The letter further stated that the Commission is mandated to monitor the proper and effective implementation of POCSO and Juvenile Justice Act.

Source : ANI

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Tuesday asked the West Bengal government DGP for an action taken report in connection with child marriage cases in the state.

According to the letter sent by the NCPCR, the data received from Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Department, West Bengal a total of 4001 cases of child marriages were noticed in 23 districts of the state between April 2021 and March 2022.

The letter stated that though out of the 4001 cases, 2939 child marriages were stopped, information on FIRs registered and injunction orders issued in cases were not available.

The letter says. ‘Data of April 2022 to September 2022 shows that a total of 2732 cases were noticed and 2154 child marriages were stopped whereas the status of the rest 578 cases is not given.’

The letter further stated that the Commission is mandated to monitor the proper and effective implementation of POCSO and Juvenile Justice Act.

"The Commission is further mandated to monitor the proper and effective implementation of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012 Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009."

Meanwhile, in March, the Principal Secretary of the Department of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare, West Bengal were summoned to the NCPCR office. According to an article by The Indian Express the action was taken after the NCPCR observed poor response to their meeting on child marriage. The article said that during the review meeting of child marriages officials from only 4 districts in West Bengal joined.

The NCPCR chairman Priyank Kanoongo had recently shown his support for the Assam government’s action against child marriages.

“Action taken by Assam government against child marriages should be followed by other states as well. The government constituting a panel to frame policy to rehabilitate child marriage victims is a welcome step,” said Kanoogo in a tweet by news agency ANI.