Order on Suo Moto Writ Petition (Civil) No. 4 of 2020 In the Matter of In Re Contagion of Covid-19 Virus in Children Protection Homes

Originally published by (Suo Moto) on 03/04/2020

Summary

The Supreme Court of India issued an Order with respect to the interests of children who fall within the ambit of Juvenile Justice. The order sets forth measures to be taken by: Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) and Children’s Courts, and State Governments. The Order also provides directions for Child Care Institutions (CCIs). These directions read as a playbook on how and what to do in order to keep children safe during the pandemic. The Order identifies both preventive and responsive measures. Also addressed under the order are measures for children under foster and kinship care as well as offering robust guidance measures that recognize the mental health needs of these children.The order directs the Juvenile Justice Court to not only ensure compliance with the order but to also regularly monitor the implementation of the directives in the order as frequently as possible and at least once per week.