Order of the Supreme Court of India regarding protection of children orphaned by COVID-19, 07/06/2021
Order of the Supreme Court of India 'In Re Contagion of COVID-19 virus in children protection homes dated 07/06/2021.
The SC in its previous order of June 1, 2021 had permitted the Amicus Curiae to have a dialogue with nodal officers to be appointed by the state governments to ascertain the information relating to the implementation of the schemes announced by the Union of India and the state governments/Union Territories favouring orphans and Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCPs). Further, the Amicus Curiae was authorized to interact with the nodal officers for finding out the modalities adopted by the states to provide succour to the affected children.
The Additional Solicitor General (ASG) would be providing the details of the scheme (welfare measures for children who lost their parents to COVID-19) that was announced by the Prime Minister of India on May 29, 2021 within a period of four weeks. The state governments/Union Territories have been directed by the SC to continue identifying the children who have become orphans or lost a parent after March 2020 either due to COVID-19 or otherwise and provide the data on the website of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
The District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) has to contact the affected child and his guardian immediately on receipt of information about the death of the parent/parents. The states/UTs would make provisions for continuance of education of the children both in government as well as in private schools. Action must be taken against those who are indulging in illegal adoptions and the Amicus Curiae has to contact the nodal officers to be appointed by the states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, Uttarakhand, NCT of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and UT of Jammu and Kashmir - to obtain the information relating to the welfare of the children who are in a dolorous state due to loss of their parent/parents and submit a report, the SC in its order of June 7, 2021 said.