‘Don't drag us into your agenda’, SC slams child rights body

The Supreme Court on Tuesday told the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) not to drag the apex court in its agenda over a plea seeking an SIT probe into cases of children allegedly sold by shelter homes in Jharkhand.

Slamming the NCPCR, a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh dismissed the plea filed by the child rights body. It said the relief sought is vague and omnibus, and it cannot be considered.

"Don't drag the Supreme Court into your agenda. What kind of relief is sought in your petition? How can we pass such directions? The petition is totally misconstrued," the bench told the lawyer appearing for the NCPCR.

At the outset, the lawyer appearing for the NCPCR submitted that the plea has sought direction for an apex court-monitored time-bound investigation of all such organisations in Jharkhand to ensure protection of children.

The top court said the NCPCR was empowered to conduct inquiry and take action in accordance with law under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005.

The bench refused to entertain the petition and dismissed the plea.

The NCPCR in its plea filed in 2020 had sought enforcement of fundamental right of prohibition of trafficking in human beings guaranteed under Article 23 of the Constitution.

It had said discrepancies had been found in children's homes in various states and it had added them as parties in its plea.

The plea had cited cases of child rights violations in Jharkhand and said the authorities in the state had adopted a callous approach to protect minors.