The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has sought enactment of legislation to register hostels connected to educational institutions in the State.

The commission said framing of laws was necessary to regulate the functioning of hostels and monitor them and protect the rights of children living here. The laws should also be applicable to children’s hostels not connected to educational institutions, commission member K. Nazeer said.

In case of a delay in making laws for registration of hostels, the ‘Regulatory Guidelines for Hostels of Educational Institution for Children’ that were brought out by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights in 2018 should be implemented or steps taken to implement similar guidelines. The Social Justice Secretary and the Women and Child Director should take steps in this connection.

The commission pointed out that the Tamil Nadu government had enacted the Tamil Nadu Hostels and Homes for Women and Children (Regulation) Act, 2014, to help monitor hostels. It said that all places where children in need of care and protection were put up or children who were orphans were accommodated should be registered under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and the Orphanages and Other Charitable Homes (Supervision and Control) Act, 1960, to ensure basic facilities for children and protect their rights. However, there were no laws in the State in connection with registration of hostels linked with educational institutions or those without such links or to ensure their supervision. This was essential to ensure safety of children in the hostels and protect their rights, the commission said.

On a plea

It was disposing of a petition in connection with Hidayathul Banath Tharbiyath, a religious school exclusively for girls located in Pallikal grama panchayat at Varkala. The commission was told that steps had been taken by the district child welfare committee to ensure the education of nine girls under the age of 14 as per the Right to Education Act. Observing that no other violation of child rights had been observed at the institution, the commission passed the direction on laws for registration of hostels.