Rehabilitation Of Street Children : Supreme Court Seeks Status Report From States

The Bench is hearing an application filed by the Amicus Curiae Mr Gaurav Agrawal seeking directions in respect of children who are adversely affected due to Covid pandemic by losing either one or both the parents, and the increased incidents of child trafficking especially of the girl child.

Further, the Bench directed that the draft SOP submitted by the Amicus Curiae and Ms.Anitha Shenoy and Ms.Sristi Agnihotri (Counsel for the petitioners) be sent to state governments and all High Courts for their comments. It further directed that responses be filed within a period of two weeks upon which. The exercise for the finalization of the SOP shall be taken up on 15.11.2021.

The Bench took note of the Standard Operating Procedure for Care and Protection of Children in Street Situations (NCPCR SOP) prepared by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights in the year 2020. In light of the NCPCR SOP, the Bench also directed NCPCR to submit a status report to this Court on the steps taken by the State Governments/ Union Territories and the statutory authorities under the Juvenile JusticeAct regarding the implementation of the SOP, within a period of two weeks.

It further directed the state governments/Union Territories to file a status report on the rehabilitation of Children in Street Situations in accordance with the SOP, within a period of two weeks.

The matter is to be heard next on 15.11.2021 at 2:PM.

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