Childhood at Stake

Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud’s Speech at the 9th National Stakeholders Consultation Sheds Light on Judicial and Social Gaps for Disabled Children.

Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasized the urgent need to address gaps in India’s judicial and social systems that prevent disabled children from accessing justice, public spaces, and equal treatment.

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud recent speech at the 9th National Stakeholders Consultation on ‘Protection of the Rights of Children Living with disability focussed on [CiCL(child in conflict with law) and CNCP(child in need of care and protection)] and Intersectionality of Disabilities’ dealt with several social, judicial, and societal aspects related to the disabled childrens’ lives and struggles.

It has brought into limelight some grave issues that need urgent attention for the prevalent wrongs in the authoritarian and non-authoritarian systems.

His speech was not just focussed on the insufficiency of India’s judicial system to tackle and aid in their struggle for justice but beyond it. He spoke giving examples of his foster specially-abled daughters and the limitations faced by disabled children within the school premises.

He mentioned the factual data absence about the children facing disabilities caused under the unnatural circumstances either due to cases staying unreported because of family’s false pride sense or the fear of suppression by the intimidator.

Not just the present schools but also other public spaces which should be easily accessible to these children for them to feel part of the society. For example: the children areas in the malls and the public parks.

They lack the infrastructure for the resources these children need in harnessing them like other normal children.

It is a paradox that a calf born with different features is worshiped and believed to be God’s finite form while at the same time circumventing children born or developing at earlier stages of life.

Here religion doesn’t act as a savior, instead the self-proclaimed religious gurus worsen the mindset of the people by feeding pedantic disposition.

They misguide the masses associating disability with past-life sins. These kinds of misconceptions have grown their roots into the deepest level of the present society that in spite of an improved literacy rate either despises or uses the lens of sympathy in place of giving and advocating equally respectful and benevolent behavior to them.

These kinds of loopholes make it cumbersome for the stakeholders to prepare the caricature for the maximum prevention of these kinds of vulnerable situations where the children fall into the risk of being preyed upon.

And thus forces them to face several societal and judicial hurdles standing in the path of a life blessed with goodness.