The Jharkhand High Court, while hearing separate Public Interest litigation (PIls) related to child marriage and decreasing number of tigers in the State on Monday, has directed the State Government to file affidavits replying to the questions asked by them. Two separate PIls were filed demanding the appointment of Child Marriage Protection Officer and measures being taken to save decreasing number of tigers in the State.
“The court has asked the State Government to file the draft being framed for checking child marriage by the State Government within two days,” said petitioner’s Advocate Anup Agrawal. The order was issued in the light of the submission made by the State Government that rules to check child marriage, which was made mandatory for all States, was being framed by it, added Agrawal. The PIl was filed by Jago foundation.
According to Agrawal, it was made mandatory for all the State Governments to formulate rules under Child Marriage Protection Act 2009, according to which each district was to have a Child Marriage Protection Officer. In Jharkhand the responsibility of the Child Marriage Protection Officer has been entrusted with the Block Development Officer (BDO) who is already overburdened with lots of work and simply cannot fulfill their responsibilities in this regard, added Agrawal. The matter will be heard again on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the State has been asked to reply within two weeks explaining what steps so far have been taken to check the decreasing number of tigers in the State. “According to the Government records, out of an earlier count of 34 tigers in the State, only 7 of them are alive now. Where the remaining tigers did go and what steps are being taken to check their decreasing population,” said petitioner’s Advocate AK Pathak. The PIl was filed by Vikas Mahto.