AMID a spate of student abuse cases in Mumbai, the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) has been functioning without a chairperson for nearly three months, precisely during the critical period between May and July, when the academic year begins for most schools and colleges. As of July 2025, the commission has 1431 pending cases awaiting action.

Under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005, each state commission must have a full-time chairperson and six appointed members, serving a term of three years. The last chairperson, Susieben Shah, completed her term on May 3, 2025. “Decisions, hearings, and directions are all carried out by the chairperson and elected members. Whether it’s POCSO cases or RTE complaints, many parents come to the commission seeking justice and leave feeling heard,” Shah told mid-day.

During her tenure, the commission addressed several urgent issues, including sexual harassment complaints, denial of school documents, exclusion from school activities, and distress caused by non-payment of fees. “Typically, we aim to resolve a case within 2-3 hearings, each scheduled with a 15-day notice,” Shah added.