The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan
The Supreme Court today slammed the Centre, saying it has shown very little interest in dealing with the issue of missing children and termed it as sorry state of affairs.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on Ministry of Women and Child Development and summoned the Secretary to be present on the next day of hearing on May 1.
The court's rebuke came during the hearing of a petition filed by NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan.
The Supreme Court had earlier asked the Centre to file a detailed affidavit on how many children have been recovered and how effectively is the government implementing the schemes in this regard. It also asked whether any advisory board has been formed under Child Protection Law.
In its response, the government said that some states had constituted the boards and others didn't and that the Centre is pursuing the matter while handing over a chart on missing children.
Angered by this, the bench said, "Tell us through an affidavit how these children are recovered, and not on a piece of paper. And what about the project - Operation Smile - to recover missing children?"
The Centre blamed the states for not sharing information on the issue and said they have written to them.
But the court shot back, "15 years had passed after the law came into force but you haven't implemented the law. You are saying you are pursuing with the states? You have to get it done. These children are missing and you show utter disregard. You are just writing letters to the states?"
"The chairperson post in National Commission for Protection of Child Rights is vacant since October 2014 and some members posts are also vacant. But still there is no sign of appointment. It is a sorry state of governance. The way this ministry (women and child development) is working, there appears to be a serious lack of interest to this public interest litigation."