Appointment of chairpersons and members to Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), and members of Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) by Women and Child Development Department, Government of Chhattisgarh, has raised several eyebrows. The members and chairperson of CWCs and members of JJBs were appointed on basis of a single member panel for each position recommended by the state selection committee to the Women and Child Development Department for these appointments.
Several Congress leaders raised objection over these appointments triggering a controversy. Congress leaders alleged that norms were not followed by the Women and Child Development Department during selection procedures and thus they had made complaints to Women and Child Development Minister Anila Bhedia.
The official sources also claimed that the Women and Child Development Department violated norms in the appointment of chairpersons and members of the CWCs and the JJB. It may be mentioned that the Women and Child Development Department, Government of Chhattisgarh issued orders for the appointment of members and chairpersons of the CWC and the members of the JJB on October 2, 2020 on the basis of the recommendation made by the six member selection committee headed by Justice R N Chandrakar, retired Judge of Chhattisgarh High Court.
Chairpersons and members of the CWC are appointed under Sub Section (1) of Section 27 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. On the recommendations of the state level selection committee, the members of the JJB are appointed under Sub Section (1) of Section 4 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
The Women and Child Development Department invited applications for appointments of chairpersons and members of the CWCs and members of the JJBs in the month of March, 2020.
After complaints, the Women and Child Development Department has corrected its previous mistakes. Now, a three member panel for each position is being sought from the selection committee for appointment of chairpersons and members of the CWCs and members of JJBs.
Women and Child Development Minister Anila Bhedia said that a single member panel was recommended earlier by the selection committee. Some appointments were held for members and chairperson of the WCCs and members of JJBs. Now, a three-member panel for each position is being sought for appointments and according to norms, appointments will be made.
Chairperson of State Commission for Women Kiranmayi Nayak said that appointment should be cancelled with immediate effect if wrong procedures are followed during the selection of candidates.
