Child welfare grievances may be raised before the Child Rights Commission, while passport and travel requests must be decided promptly.

The Commission under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 may examine child-rights safeguards, inquire into violations, take suo motu notice of deprivation of child rights, and address matters connected with child welfare. In light of that statutory remit, the grievance concerning the child's custody and welfare was to be taken before the Commission. The child's travel and passport request was to be pursued through a comprehensive application, which the Central Government stated would be decided expeditiously within four weeks.

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Issues: Whether the grievance regarding the child's custody and welfare should be pursued before the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, and whether the pending application relating to the child's travel and passport should be considered expeditiously.

Analysis: The Commission constituted under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 is empowered to examine and review safeguards for child rights, inquire into violations, take suo motu notice of matters relating to deprivation of child rights, non-implementation of protective laws, and other matters connected with the welfare of children. In view of this statutory framework, the Court indicated that any grievance in relation to the child could appropriately be ventilated before the Commission. As regards the child's travel and passport-related request, the Central Government stated that on filing of a comprehensive application within the stipulated time, it would be decided expeditiously within four weeks.

Conclusion: The grievance was directed to be taken before the Commission, and the pending travel and passport matter was to be decided promptly upon proper application.

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