Child panel criticises Kerala HC curbs on children
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has criticised the High Court for barring children under the age of 18 years from Women’s Wall.
Child rights commission chairperson P. Suresh told reporters here on Thursday that children also have the right to take part in such event. He said he will approach the Supreme Court against the HC order to exclude children from the event.
Mr Suresh said the court order breached international child rights laws and the rights guaranteed by the Constitution to children. “As per article 19 of the Constitution all citizens have the right to organise and express their opinion. Article 21 guarantees personal freedom. Annexure 12 Section 2 of international child rights law, have made clear that children’s opinion should be sought before any court or administrative action that would affect them. The court had not sought the opinion of Child Rights Commission in this regard,” he said.
Mr Suresh said that parents have the responsibility to protect renaissance values and to provide proper orientation to their children to keep off communal extremism and killer games like Blue Whale that are fast spreading in society.
“In these circumstances, high court order asked the organisers of Women’s Wall to exclude children from the event is violation of their rights,” Suresh added.