Srinagar, October 15: The appointment of new members to Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) and Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) across Jammu and Kashmir remains pending following the expiry of the extended tenure of existing members, with ongoing legal disputes over recruitment further delaying the constitution of the statutory bodies.

The Directorate of Mission Vatsalya, through an order issued on October 13, directed District Child Protection Officers (DCPOs) to take charge of official records, case files, registers and other documents maintained by the CWCs and JJBs in their respective districts.

According to the order issued by Mission Director Rubina Kausar, JKAS, the tenure of most CWCs and JJBs ended on April 15, 2026. The Social Welfare Department subsequently extended the tenure of their chairpersons and members by six months through Government Order No. 62-JK (SWD) of 2026, issued on April 20. The extension expired on October 13, but the process of constituting the new bodies remains incomplete.

The appointment process has reportedly been delayed despite applications being invited in the first week of June. The recruitment exercise has also come under judicial scrutiny after some existing CWC members challenged the procedure adopted for inviting applications.

The petitioners have reportedly raised objections regarding the manner in which the application forms were advertised, arguing that the process should comply with the applicable rules governing the juvenile justice and child protection system in Jammu and Kashmir. Questions have also been raised over eligibility criteria for the post of chairperson, including whether serving CWC members can apply for the position.

The matter is currently before the court. According to persons familiar with the developments, the court has allowed applications to be received and scrutinised while keeping the selection process on hold until a final decision is delivered. The exact scope of the directions could not be independently confirmed.

In a separate development, two members of the Juvenile Justice Boards are understood to have approached the court seeking intervention against the anticipated advertisement of posts, even before the completion of their existing tenure. This has added to the legal complications surrounding the constitution of the new boards.

The delay has also brought the engagement and continuation of contractual and outsourced personnel within the child protection system under scrutiny. Questions have emerged over the rules governing their retention during the transitional period, particularly in cases where individuals associated with the system are involved in legal proceedings concerning the recruitment process.

Concerns have also been expressed over the dependence on outsourced personnel in several districts, including the safeguards required to ensure impartiality, accountability and uninterrupted delivery of services. The legal basis for continuing these engagements, along with the responsibilities assigned to such staff until the new committees and boards are formed, requires further clarification from the authorities.

To ensure continuity in the meantime, the October 13 order has outlined interim arrangements for handling child protection and juvenile justice matters.

Cases involving Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP) will be managed by the concerned Protection Officers responsible for institutional and non-institutional care, assisted by supporting staff under the supervision of the respective DCPOs.

Similarly, Principal Magistrates of the Juvenile Justice Boards will receive assistance from Legal-cum-Probation Officers and other personnel of the District Child Protection Units in matters involving Children in Conflict with Law (CICL).

The directorate has instructed DCPOs to ensure the proper transfer, verification and documentation of all records and their secure custody. Particular emphasis has been placed on maintaining confidentiality and safeguarding sensitive information relating to children. The officers have also been directed to submit compliance reports after completing the takeover process.

The delay in appointments has raised concerns about the prolonged uncertainty surrounding these statutory institutions, particularly as the recruitment process began several months ago. Questions also remain over how the government plans to maintain effective functioning, accountability and continuity of child protection and juvenile justice services while the legal proceedings continue.

The government's response to the concerns surrounding the recruitment process and the continuation of contractual and outsourced personnel was not available at the time of publication.