New head for child rights body soon

First time in two and a half years, revival of selection process begins after high court pressure

- IFRAH MUFTI @New Delhi

FOR the first time in two anda half years, Delhi is finally moving toward appointing a full-time chief for the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR), an institution that has remained headless despite its crucial mandate.

A list of around 20 candidates, including at least three retired IAS officers, is now before the screening committee, with interviews expected to begin soon, a source confirmed.

The revival of the selection process comes only after sustained pressure from the Delhi High Court. In October, the Delhi government had appointed Rashmi Singh, secretary of the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department, as the officiating chairperson, which was an interim step that underscored how the regular appointment process had remained stuck for more than two years.

The post has been vacant since July 2023, when former chairperson Anurag Kundu completed his term and moved to the Punjab government.

A source said that he (Anurag Kundu) could have continued with a second term since he was young, but LG had high court stepped in.

During a period when Delhi has confronted rising cases of child abuse, school safety violations, trafficking concerns, and welfare lapses, the absence of a regular chairperson apparently weakened institutional accountability.