States should address basic needs of children orphaned due to COVID-19 without waiting for our order: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday asked all the State governments to take charge of children who have been orphaned in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic without waiting for its orders..A Bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Aniruddha Bose made the observation while hearing a suo motu case regarding protection of children from COVID-19 in child care institutions. .By way of an interim application, Amicus Curiae Gaurav Agarwal submitted that two categories of children are in need of immediate protection. "The first category is of children who have lost their parents and guardians. The next is children who have lost parents or guardians who were earning members," said Agarwal. .The Court, in its order, noted that the pandemic has created an unprecedented situation and has a cascading effect on vulnerable children..The top court further ordered that states should take charge of children and address their basic needs without waiting for its official order..On being informed that a portal was already in place to identify such children, the Court ordered, district authorities to upload information about children who have been orphaned after March 2020. "It has been brought to our notice that there are a large number of children who have become orphans due to the demise of breadwinner or both parents. We are informed by ASG Aishwarya Bhati and counselor NCPCR that portal named BalSwaraj is being operated by all concerned district authorities and have been given password to access and upload information pertaining to identification of children who became orphans. District authorities are directed to upload information about children who have become orphans after March 2020 by Saturday (tomorrow) evening, 8 pm.".State governments were also asked to file their replies to the application, latest by Sunday evening, so that the Amicus Curiae can prepare a note collating all information and submit it to Court by Monday evening..[Read Order]