DCPU Khunti has released a district-level recruitment notice for empanelment of Support Persons to assist children in cases covered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and the POCSO Rules, 2020. This is meant to create a panel of eligible persons who can be assigned work on a per-case basis when required by the District Child Protection Unit.
This recruitment is not framed like a standard fixed-post government vacancy. The official notice links the number of support persons to case load at the district level, and the payment is case-based rather than a fixed monthly salary. That makes it important for applicants to read the eligibility and panel rules carefully before sending the form.
For most applicants, the key points are simple: the application has to be submitted offline, the last date is 04 May 2026 by 5:00 PM, the age range is 35 to 60 years, and the minimum route to eligibility is graduation with relevant full-time experience. Candidates with postgraduate qualifications in specified subjects and direct child protection or legal support experience will be better placed for empanelment.
Recruitment overview
The Khunti district administration has issued this notice through the District Child Protection Unit for empanelment of Support Persons. The panel is being prepared to provide assistance to children in sexual offence cases under the POCSO Act and Rules.
The engagement is district-level and case-based. The official notice does not present this as a regular salaried post with a fixed vacancy count. Instead, empanelment is to be done for service delivery as and when cases require a Support Person.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Authority | District Child Protection Unit, Khunti |
| Post | Support Person |
| Advertisement No. | 01/2026 |
| Apply mode | Offline |
| Engagement type | Empanelment on per-case basis |
| Location | Khunti, Jharkhand |
Important dates
The official district notice shows the recruitment publication date and the application deadline clearly. Candidates should not wait until the last day because the application has to reach the office by the stated deadline.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification published | 18 April 2026 |
| Last date to receive application | 04 May 2026 |
| Cut-off time on last date | 5:00 PM |
The notice does not announce a separate written exam date. Shortlisted eligible candidates are to be called for interview by the selection committee.
Vacancy and nature of engagement
This recruitment is for building a district panel of Support Persons rather than filling one clearly numbered regular vacancy. The notice states that the number of empanelled persons will be linked to the number of cases in the district in a 1:10 ratio.
That means applicants should understand the practical setup correctly:
- It is a panel-based engagement.
- Work is assigned when required in actual cases.
- Payment is linked to each allotted case, not a monthly fixed pay structure.
- The district may empanel more than one eligible person depending on case load and administrative need.
Eligibility criteria
The notice provides both academic and experience requirements. The minimum route to eligibility is graduation with relevant full-time work experience, while candidates with postgraduate study in specified subjects are also eligible.
- Postgraduate degree in Arts, Commerce, Science, Law, Psychology, Social Work, Child Psychology or local language; or
- Graduate degree in any discipline with at least 2 years of full-time experience in the related field.
Relevant experience areas mentioned in the notice include child rights, child protection, legal work, social work, child psychology, counselling, sociology and psychology.
Desirable experience includes at least 1 year of work connected with DLSA, JHALSA, DCPO, CWC, JJB or POCSO Court matters. The notice also clarifies that only full-time experience certificates issued by the employer will be treated as valid experience proof.
Age limit and honorarium
The age band mentioned in the official notice is 35 to 60 years. Candidates outside this range should not assume relaxation unless it is separately provided through the governing rules applicable to the process.
The honorarium is not a fixed monthly salary. The official notice states that Support Persons will be paid on a per-case basis, with a maximum of Rs. 5,000 per case.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 35 years |
| Maximum age | 60 years |
| Payment mode | Per case |
| Maximum amount | Rs. 5,000 per case |
The notice does not announce any separate application fee in the recruitment document.
Selection process and empanelment rules
Eligible applicants are to be called for interview by the selection committee. The notice says assessment will consider educational background, work experience, understanding of child protection and juvenile justice issues, prior work with children, and performance in interview.
The notice also mentions that experience can fetch marks year-wise up to a maximum limit, and interview carries a separate weightage. The final purpose of the process is to prepare a panel of suitable Support Persons.
- Shortlisting of eligible applications
- Interview by the selection committee
- Preparation and publication of empanelled list
- Police verification of empanelled candidates
Important panel rules in the notice include a 3-year empanelment period, annual review, and a preference structure that seeks 60% women and 40% men in the panel, subject to availability. The notice also says local candidates will be given preference during panel formation.
How to apply offline
The application has to be submitted only in the prescribed format attached with the notice. Candidates should fill the form carefully and send it through registered post or speed post so that it reaches the office before the deadline.
- Download the official notice and application form.
- Fill in personal, educational and experience details in the prescribed format.
- Attach the required self-attested supporting documents.
- Clearly write the post name, sender name and full correspondence address on the envelope.
- Send the application by registered post or speed post to the notified district office address.
Application address:
District Child Protection Officer,
District Child Protection Unit,
Vikas Bhavan, Second Floor, Room No. 02,
Collectorate, Khunti - 835210
The application must reach the office by 04 May 2026 up to 5:00 PM.
Documents to attach with the application
The form asks for detailed personal, educational and experience information, and the notice says relevant proofs must be enclosed with the application. Candidates should arrange documents in an orderly way before dispatch.
- Filled application form in the prescribed format
- Recent self-attested passport-size photograph
- Self-attested educational qualification certificates and marksheets
- Age proof
- Experience certificates for relevant full-time work
- Proof of local residence, where applicable
- Category certificate, if applicable
- Any other relevant supporting document asked in the form
The notice makes it clear that incomplete applications or forms without required enclosures can be rejected without separate intimation.
Role of a Support Person
This empanelment is tied to child assistance in cases under the POCSO framework. The official notice says the duties of a Support Person will be as per the applicable state instructions and the POCSO legal framework.
In practical terms, this role is meant for helping the child through the support process rather than acting as a routine clerical or administrative employee. Applicants with experience in child protection, counselling, psychosocial support, legal aid or court-linked child care systems are more aligned with the purpose of the post.
- Assist the child in navigating the process connected to the case
- Work within child protection and child-friendly principles
- Coordinate as required with the relevant institutional mechanism
- Support service delivery in line with notified guidelines
Important conditions before applying
Before applying, candidates should read the practical conditions mentioned in the notice instead of assuming this is a standard permanent post. Several points can directly affect eligibility or later empanelment.
- Only applications in the prescribed format will be accepted.
- Applications received after the last date and time will not be considered.
- Incomplete applications can be rejected.
- Documents found false or forged can lead to cancellation and legal action.
- Police verification is mandatory for empanelled candidates.
- The decision of the selection committee will be final in case of dispute.
Because this is a district panel process, candidates should also keep copies of the form, postal receipt and all enclosures for future reference.
Official Links
Frequently Asked Questions
The last date to receive the offline application is 04 May 2026 up to 5:00 PM.
It is a panel-based engagement for Support Persons on a per-case basis, not a regular fixed-pay post.
The minimum route to eligibility is a graduate degree with relevant full-time experience, while specified postgraduate qualifications are also accepted.
The official notice mentions an age range of 35 to 60 years.
The honorarium is case-based and the official notice states a maximum of Rs. 5,000 per case.
The application has to be sent offline in the prescribed format through registered post or speed post to the District Child Protection Unit, Khunti.
The notice does not mention a written exam. Eligible candidates are to be called for interview by the selection committee.