In a move aimed at strengthening child-friendly policing practices, the Chhattisgarh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CSCPCR) has issued a key recommendation directing that details of the Child Welfare Police Officer (CWPO), Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) and the child emergency helpline 1098 be prominently displayed in every police station across State. The recommendation, numbered R-188 dated March 3, 2026, has been sent to the Police Commissioner, Raipur, and all Senior Superintendents of Police and Superintendents of Police across Chhattisgarh. Addressing the issue, Commission Chairperson Dr Varnika Sharma said the directive was issued after it came to light during proceedings of certain cases before the Commission that many police personnel were unaware of the officers designated as Child Welfare Police Officers in their respective stations. In several instances, even station house officers were reportedly unaware of the designated CWPOs after transfers, which affected proper handling of cases involving children. The Commission also observed that information regarding the Special Juvenile Police Unit at the district level was not readily available at several police stations. As a result, police personnel sometimes failed to follow child-sensitive procedures while dealing with cases involving minors.

 

Citing provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the Commission noted that Section 107 mandates the appointment of a Child Welfare Police Officer in every police station and the establishment of a Special Juvenile Police Unit in each district. Section 108 requires authorities to promote awareness about the provisions of the Act, while Section 109 assigns monitoring responsibility to child rights commissions. Under the recommendation, police stations have been asked to create a rectangular display board on a black-painted wall at prominent locations within the premises. The board should list the designation of the district SJPU in-charge, the Child Welfare Police Officer of the police station and the child emergency helpline number 1098. The Commission has advised that only the designations and helpline number be painted permanently in white, while the names of the officers may be written with chalk so that they can be easily updated after transfers. Police authorities have been asked to implement the system in all police stations before March 31, 2026, and submit compliance reports along with photographs of the display boards to the Commission.