Supreme Court Extends Time For Making Crèche Facility Functional To 30 April [Read Order]

The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, extended the time for making the crèche facility functional in its premises from 1 March to 30 April.

The Bench comprising Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice R. Banumathi granted the Application filed by its Secretary-General, on the Petition which was instituted by Ms. Anindita Pujari in 2015.

The Petition had been filed just two days after the inauguration of the Child Care Centre at the Apex Court and had pointed out various deficiencies in the same. It was then disposed of in November last year, directing that the modalities would be deliberated upon by the stakeholders with the Managing Committee and shall then be decided.

During the hearing on Tuesday, two suggestions were put forth before the Court. The first issue was to consider the viability of a regular kitchen or a pantry. The second issue concerned provision of an alternate entry to the crèche through wicket gate from the side of the Court complex. Senior Advocate Indira Jaising argued for the petitioner.

Taking note of the suggestions, the Court directed the Counsel for the stakeholders to discuss these with the concerned officials of the Registry and submit the decision to the Court within seven days. A similar discussion was directed to be held on the issue of modalities of the facility, observing,

"Insofar as the issue with regard to modalities, such as, age of children to be admitted; fees to be charged, number of employees; qualification of employees, question(s) of health-care/hygiene, food, etc. which would govern the Crèche, are concerned, once again the learned counsels appearing for the different stake-holders will sit with the official(s) of the Registry of this Court and together all the stakeholders would try and evolve an acceptable set of modalities that would govern the Crèche in the future."

The modalities will have to be laid before the Court at the end of the month. The matter has now been listed on 15 March.

You may read: Crèche Is Not Kid’s Play: Bridging Gaps – Crèche Facility Under The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 by Gerald Manoharan & Sonakshi Das