Delhi govt orders all schools to form child protection panels by month-end or face action

Updated - July 29, 2026 10:04 am IST | NEW DELHI

By The Hindu Bureau

CM Rekha Gupta | Photo Credit: ANI

The Delhi government on Monday directed all 5,633 schools in the Capital to establish child protection committees by July 31. The directive was issued during a review of safety measures for schoolchildren as part of the month-long ‘Child Protection Month’ initiative.

Lieutenant-Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who reviewed the measures alongside Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, also ordered that a standard operating procedure for handling cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act be implemented in every school. Additionally, he instructed Education Department officials to obtain compliance certificates from schools regarding the safety checklist for students issued by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR).

Mr. Sandhu warned of strict action against schools that fail to comply with the directions within the stipulated timeframe.

“A report will be sought from the Education Department by the end of the month regarding the progress of the formation of the committees and the safety checklist compliance as per the DCPCR. If non-compliance is found by any school, action will be taken as per provisions of the POCSO Act,” said a Lok Niwas official.

“There is no room for complacency in ensuring a safe and sensitive environment for every child,” the L-G said, stressing that all departments must complete assigned tasks within the given timelines.

Child Protection Committees

Child protection committees are headed by the principal and include representatives from teachers, parents, counsellors, and students. Their role is to review complaints and monitor safety measures.

CM’s Remarks

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said child protection programmes should become a permanent feature of every institution.

“The Delhi government will ensure timely implementation of every direction through close coordination among all departments. Our objective is to build a strong child protection system so that every child in the Capital grows up in a safe, dignified and secure environment,” she added.

Inspection Teams

Officials informed Mr. Sandhu and the CM that joint inspection teams are being formed to strengthen monitoring. These teams will include:

• Parents
• Officials from the Education Department
• Officials from the Women and Child Development Department
• Delhi Police representatives
• School heads

Awareness Campaigns

Awareness campaigns for students and parents will be conducted through:

• Parent-teacher meetings
• Audiovisual materials
• Printed information

Police Initiatives

Police officers reported that they are conducting awareness programmes on the POCSO Act, cyber safety, and drug abuse. An Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police has been appointed in every district as the nodal officer for child safety cases.

Published - July 07, 2026 12:52 am IST