NCPCR Urges States To Prevent Corporal Punishment, Discrimination In School Festivities, Check Guidelines Here

New Delhi: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), the top child rights body, has issued a directive to all states and union territories, calling for immediate measures to prevent corporal punishment and discrimination against children during school festival celebrations. This comes in response to numerous reports of students facing harassment over cultural and religious practices such as wearing rakhi, tilak or mehandi during festivals like Raksha Bandhan.
In a letter addressed to the principal secretaries of School Education departments across the country, NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo emphasized the need for strict adherence to child protection laws, particularly in the context of upcoming festivals.
Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act of 2005
The Commission, established under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act of 2005, also monitors the implementation of key legislation, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
The letter highlighted the concerning trend of schools imposing restrictions on the students’ participation in cultural and religious practices, often leading to physical and mental harassment. This, the Commission noted, is in direct violation of Section 17 of the RTE Act, which explicitly prohibits corporal punishment in schools.
“As the festivals are approaching, it is requested to issue necessary directions to the concerned authorities and ensure that schools do not observe any such practice that may expose children to corporal punishment or discrimination,” Kanoongo stated in the letter. He further requested that compliance reports, along with copies of the relevant orders, be submitted to the Commission by August 17.
SC To Hear Plea of NCPCR On Child Marriage
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to list for hearing a plea of child rights body NCPCR seeking an authoritative pronouncement on a vexed legal question whether a secular law on prohibition of child marriage will prevail over the Muslim personal law.
A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was urged by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta the plea of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) be heard on priority basis keeping in mind the different views being expressed by various high courts on the issue of child marriage.
Some high courts are taking note of the personal laws on the issue and conflicting judgments are being rendered and may lead to filing of several special leave petitions (SLPs) in the top court, the law officer said.
“Different views are being taken by different high courts. The issue is whether child marriage is permitted or not in one religion or another religion. We (NCPCR) are arguing on constitutional principles,” the law officer said.
He urged the bench that the 2022 plea of the NCPCR be listed on “any Wednesday or Thursday” as new judgements from different high courts are being delivered and multiplying the appeals.
(With inputs from agencies)