*Monitors implementation of SC directions
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 8: In order to monitor the implementation and compliance of various directions passed by Supreme Court of India in a suo moto writ petition, Chairperson, Juvenile Justice Committee, High Court of Jammu and Kashmir, Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey today held a high level meeting with senior Government functionaries of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was held through video conferencing to maintain social distance and implement the current lockdown successfully.
Principal Secretary Social Welfare, Shailendra Kumar, Deputy Commissioners of Jammu and Srinagar, Sushma Chouhan and Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Commissioners, Municipal Corporations, Jammu and Srinagar, Avny Lavasa and Gazanfar Ali, Director Health Services, Kashmir, Mission Director, ICPS, SSP, Jammu and Srinagar, Joint Director Information, Parveen Kumar and other senior officers attended the meeting through video link.
Justice Magrey impressed upon all the officers to ensure strict implementation of the order passed by the Supreme Court and to ensure that the interest of children who fall within the ambit of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act is protected and urgent measures are taken on priority basis to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Child Care Institutions.
In the meeting, the attending officers were asked to direct Child Welfare Committees to conduct inspections/inquires, conduct special online sittings/video sessions to prevent COVID-19 spread. They were also directed to establish online help desks for queries relating to children and staff.
Municipal Commissioners, Jammu and Srinagar were directed to immediately launch a sanitization drive in Observation Home RS Pura Jammu and Harwan Srinagar respectively and other Children Homes in the UT both in Government and private sector. He also directed the concerned authorities to undertake awareness drive among these children about social distancing, hand washing and other personal hygiene issues.
The Chairperson directed the Deputy Commissioners of Jammu and Srinagar to make the lists of the Juvenile Homes available to the Municipal authorities in the two cities for the purpose.
The Health Department was advised to immediately depute team of doctors and para medics to Observation Homes and other Children Homes for checking the health status of each and every child staying in these homes.
Justice Magray asked the Police Department to give necessary permission to transfer children to their family homes or Juvenile Justice Boards or any other authorities and at the same time to ensure that directions issued in respect of lockdown are not violated. He also directed the Police to ensure availability of transport to the children who ought to be taken to court or released on bail and also to see that they are not put to any unnecessary quarantine.
The attending officers were advised to immediately circulate information to all the Child Care Institutions about how to deal with COVID-19 pandemic timely and in effective manner. It was stressed that preparation must be started for meeting any disaster/emergency situation that may arise due to this pandemic and all the measures including staff rotation, reduction of in-person interaction by CCI staff and training of volunteers must be initiated at earliest.
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