‘Foolish': Child panel chief on AIUDF's charges against Assam government

The AIUDF claimed on Saturday that the Assam government is conducting a crackdown on child marriage in violation of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) without framing the requisite rules.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chief Priyank Kanoongo on Sunday said the Assam government's initiative against child marriage is appreciative and that other state governments should follow the same, according to news agency ANI. Responding to the claims of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) which alleged that the Assam government is carrying out the drive without framing rules, the NCPCR chief said it is "foolish".

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (PTI)

“NCPCR has appreciated Assam's government initiative against adults involved in child marriages and we also expect other states to take similar steps. AIUDF's statement that the Assam government didn't frame rules is foolish,” news agency ANI quoted the NCPCR as saying.

Kanoongo also said that cases involving children must be treated with sensitivity by political parties.“Child Marriage Act and POCSO Act are central Acts, the Assam government doesn't need to make separate rules if they're okay with model rules. I don't understand how silly people give political statements,” he said.

The AIUDF claimed on Saturday that the Assam government is conducting a crackdown on child marriage in violation of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) without framing the requisite rules. Party's general secretary Aminul Islam claimed that rules for implementing the PCMA have not been framed by the state government.“The PCMA of 2006 came into effect from 2007. Since it is a central act, the states have to frame the rules. From 2007 to 2014, the state was under the Congress rule, and since then, under BJP. Why didn’t the government of the day frame the rules?” he questioned.