Rights violation alleged in church protest mode

KOCHI: The Catholic Church, which is campaigning against the draft provisions in  the Women’s Code Bill 2011, may soon land in a legal tussle. A petition has been filed before the State Human Rights Commission alleging Kerala Catholic Bishops Conference (KCBC) violated  Juvenile Justice Act by using children to stage a dharna in front of the secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram.It is alleged that children were made exposed  to scorching sun and it was violation of  provisions of Juvenile Justice Act.The dharna was staged by the KCBC to register its protest against the draft recommendations in the Women’s Code Bill. The petition was filed on the basis of a photo published on a daily in which children were shown holding placards calling for scrapping of the medical termination of pregnancy sitting on tarred road.It is alleged in the petition that the KCBC treated children in an inhuman manner.“Children were not brought to the strike front even for the freedom struggle of India. However, genuine the grievances of the KCBC might be, no right-thinking citizen can  approve the horrendous method they adopted to put forth their views,” the petitioner states.The Chief Secretary, City Police Chief Commissioner, Child Welfare Committeeand Deputy Secretary-General are listed respondents in the petition.