The Jharkhand High Court, hearing a PIl seeking appointment of Child Marriage Protection Officer and formulation of rules to check child marriage in the State, has directed the State Government to issue gazette notification in this regard within a week. Meanwhile, the State Government on Wednesday, submitted the rules formulated by the State authorities in court. The court, on Monday, had asked the State Government to file the draft being framed for checking child marriage in the State within two days.
“Since rules have already been framed by the State Government, a court of Chief Justice Virender Singh and Justice PP Bhatt today, directed it to issue gazette notification within a week,” said petitioner’s advocate Anup Agrawal. The State was also told to take further steps in the appointment District Child Marriage Protection Officers soon, he added.
“The State Government under the Child Marriage Protection Act 2006 has to appoint Child Marriage Protection Officers in each of the districts, which has not been done here so far,” he said.
In Jharkhand, the responsibility of the Child Marriage Protection Officer has been entrusted with the Block Development Officers (BDO) who are already overburdened with various other works and simply cannot fulfill their responsibilities in this regard, added Agrawal. The matter will be heard again after two weeks.
The court, according to Agrawal, also showed its keenness on holding a seminar along with Jharkhand State legal Services Authority (JHAlSA) after the notification is issued by the State Government. The PIl was filed by Jago foundation.