Kerala: Two child protection members under cloud

KOZHIKODE: Of the six new members of the state commission for protection of child rights (KeSCPCR) appointed on Tuesday, two are under the cloud. Among them, T.B Suresh was the member of Wayanad Child Welfare Committee (CWC) which faced the axe for its lapses in the Kottiyoor rape case. Mr Suresh was one of the three CWC members asked by the SJ department to abstain from duty till the probe is over. In the incident, Wayanad CWC chairman Fr Thomas Joseph Therakam and another member Dr C. Betty were removed. The preliminary report of district child protection officer (DCPO) had found lapses on the part of the three.

The rules regarding the appointment of KeSCPCR chairman and members clearly states that no person having any record of violation of child rights shall be eligible. Mr Suresh is a member of the CPM Wayanad district committee. Kozhikode CWC chairperson Adv Sreela Menon is the second name. He faces charges of lapses in the case of a minor girl delivered allegedly out of rape by a Sunday school teacher at Panamaram in Wayanad in March.

According to the findings of DCPO, Kozhikode CWC did not verify the age of the minor girl before signing the surrender deed for accepting the child as the child was born in a hospital in Kozhikode. The surrender deed was signed by the Plus Two student, who was the rape victim, flouting rules. Speaking to DC, Mr Suresh explained that he was in Thiruvananthapuram during the time of Kottiyoor incident. The SJ department director T.V Anupama said she had no role in the selection process. The other new members are P.J Antony (Kollam), P.P Shyamala Devi (Kasargod), Sister Biji Jose (Idukki) and M.P Antony (Ernakulam).