The newly-constituted Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights will hold its first-ever sitting in the state and has asked the public to utilise the forum to submit petitions. The sitting will be held on December 11 and 19 at the Social Justice Directorate annexe office building at Poojappura here from 10.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Issues related to protection or violation of child rights can be presented before the Commission during the sitting. The public can submit their petitions on plain white paper during the sitting and no application fee will be levied, a spokesperson of the Commission said here. The Commission, chaired by Neela Gangadharan, is entitled by law to examine whether existing security mechanisms to protect child rights are being properly implemented. It will also examine whether laws to ensure protection to children are being strictly enforced. The Commission is also empowered to initiate action, including prosecution proceedings, if atrocities against children are brought to its notice. Besides looking into issues under its jurisdiction, the Commission also monitors the implementation of the Right to Education Act (RTE) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the spokesperson said.