National Disaster Management Authority Should Give Special Attention To Children In The Event Of A Disaster: SC [Read Order]

The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, opined that the National Disaster Management Authority should “give special attention to the children in the event of a disaster since they are the most vulnerable victims of a disaster that may strike at any time.”

The Bench comprising Justice M.B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta, however, refrained from passing any direction to the Authority, noting that it was not a party to the proceedings.

Hearing a Petition filed by the Bachpan Bachao Andolan, the Court was further informed that currently, the cases of trafficking of children and children illegally being compelled to be involved in child labour are not registered by the police.

The Court then issued a general direction, that “in the event of any information about trafficking of children or exploitation of children contrary to law appropriate cases should be registered by the police and necessary follow up action be taken.”

The Court also accepted the NGO’s suggestion on monitoring the Standard Operating Procedure on Missing Children, and directed the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development to inform all State Commissions to monitor the same.

“There is no doubt that rescue of missing children and their restoration are of considerable importance and we expect the State Commissions to take up the task in right earnestness,” it observed.

Moreover, the NGO apprised the Court of a mobile application on facial recognition of missing children, developed by I.T. Professional Mr. Vijay Gnanadesikan. The NGO took it upon itself to be in touch with Mr. Gnanadesikan, so that the Centre could make use of his expertise in developing and implementing a similar application. It listed the matter on 7 December for consideration of this submission.