The Child Welfare Committee

In one line

Every district has a Committee of a Chairperson and four members, qualified by degree and experience, meeting at least twenty days a month, with eighteen functions, exclusive authority over children in need of care and protection, and since 2022 a District Magistrate who reviews it quarterly and hears grievances against it.

In the wording a student can write in an exam: by section 27(2) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 the Committee shall consist of a Chairperson and four other members as the State Government may think fit to appoint, of whom at least one shall be a woman and another an expert on matters concerning children.

Section 27, the Committee

Sub-section (1). The State Government shall by notification constitute for every district one or more Committees, and shall ensure induction training and sensitisation of all members within two months of appointment.

Sub-section (2), composition. A Chairperson and four other members, of whom at least one shall be a woman and another an expert on matters concerning children.

Sub-section (3), staff. The District Child Protection Unit shall provide a Secretary and other staff for secretarial support. The 2000 Act gave the Committee nobody.

Sub-section (4), qualification, as substituted in 2022. No person shall be appointed unless he has a degree in child psychology or psychiatry or law or social work or sociology or human health or education or human development or special education for differently abled children, and has been actively involved in health, education or welfare activities pertaining to children for seven years, or is a practising professional with such a degree.

Sub-section (4A), five disqualifications, inserted in 2022. A past record of violation of human rights or child rights; conviction for an offence involving moral turpitude not reversed or pardoned; removal or dismissal from Government service or a Government undertaking or corporation; ever having indulged in child abuse, employment of child labour, an immoral act or any other violation of human rights; or being part of the management of a child care institution in the district.

The fifth is the interesting one. A person who runs a child care institution cannot sit on the body that inspects it and places children in it.

Sub-section (6), tenure. No person shall be appointed for more than three years as a member.

Sub-section (7), termination. After inquiry, for misuse of power, conviction for moral turpitude, or absence for three consecutive months or from more than a quarter of the sittings in a year.

Sub-section (9), status. The Committee shall function as a Bench with the powers conferred by the Code on a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class.