Functions and powers
1. The Commission shall perform all or any of the following functions, namely:
a) Examine and review the safeguards provided by or under any law for the time being in force for the protection of child rights and recommend measures for their effective implementation.
b) Present to be central government, annually and at such other intervals, as the commission may deem fit, reports upon working of those safeguards; c) Inquire into violation of child rights and recommend initiation of proceedings in such cases;
d) Examine all factors that inhibit the enjoyment of rights of children affected by terrorism, communal violence, riots, natural disaster, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, maltreatment, torture and exploitation, pornography and prostitution and recommend appropriate remedial measures;
e) look into the matters relating to children in need of special care and protection including children in distress,marginalized and disadvantaged children, children in conflict with law, juveniles, children without family and children of prisoners and recommend appropriate remedial measures;
f) Study treaties and other international instruments and undertake periodical review of existing policies, programmes and other activities on child rights and make recommendations for their effective implementation in the best interest of children;
g) Undertake and promote research in the field of child rights;
h) Spread child rights literacy among various section of society and promote awareness of the safeguards available for protection of these rights through publications, the media, seminar and other available means;
i) Inspect or cause to be inspected any juveniles custodial home, or any other place of residence or institution meant for children, under the control of the Central Government or any State Government or any other authority, including any institution run by a social organization; Where children are detained or lodged for the purpose of treatment, reformation or protection and take up with these authorities for remedial action, if found necessary;
j) Inquire into complaints and take suo motu notice of matter relating to :
a) deprivation and violation of child rights;
b) non implementation of laws providing for protection and development of children;
c) non compliance of policy decisions, guidelines or instructions aimed at mitigating hardships to and ensuring welfare of the children and provide relief to such children;
k) Such other functions as it may consider necessary for the promotion of child rights and any other matter incidental to the above functions.
2. The Commission shall not inquire into any matter which is pending before a State Commission or any other Commission duly constituted under any law for the time being in force.
3. (I) The Commission shall, while inquiring into any matter referred to in clause (j)of sub-section (1) of section 13 have all the powers of a civil court trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 and, in particular, in respect of the following matters, namely:
a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
b) discovery and production of any document;
c) receiving evidence on affidavits;
d) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office; and
e) Issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents.
(II) The Commission shall have the power to forward any case to a Magistrate having jurisdiction to try the same and the Magistrate to whom any such case is forwarded shall proceed to hear the complaint against the accused as if the case has been forwarded to him under section 346 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
4. The Commission may take any of the following steps upon the completion of an inquiry held under this Act, namely:-
a) where the inquiry discloses, the Commission of violation of child rights of a serious nature or contravention of provisions of any law for the time being in force, it may recommend to the concerned Government or authority the initiation of proceedings. for prosecution or such other action as the Commission may deem fit against the concerned person or persons;
b) approach the Supreme Court or the High Court concerned for such directions, orders or writs as that Court may deem necessary;
c) recommend to the concerned Government or authority for the grant of such interim relief to the victim or the members of his family as the Commission may consider necessary.
5. (I) The Commission shall submit an annual report to the Central Government and to the State Government concerned and may at any time submit special reports on any matter which, in its opinion, is of such urgency or importance that it should not be deferred till submission of the annual report.
(II) The Central Government and the State Government concerned, as the case may be, shall cause the annual and special reports of the Commission to be laid before each House of Parliament or the State Legislature respectively, as the case may be, along with a memorandum of action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations of the Commission and the reasons for non-acceptance of the recommendations, if any, within a period of one year from the date of receipt of such report.
III) The annual report shall be prepared in such form, manner and contain such details as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
