The Delhi High Court asked the Delhi government to explain why the Delhi Commission for Women has remained inactive for two years, stressing, “There cannot be reason whatsoever for not filling up the vacancies of members and chairperson.”
The Delhi High Court required the Delhi government to clarify why the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has remained inactive for the past two years.
A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, noted that the DCW plays a vital role in safeguarding the safety and legal rights of women.
They stated,
“There cannot be any reason whatsoever for not filling up the vacancies of members and chairperson in the Commission.”
Consequently, the Court instructed the Delhi government’s Standing Counsel, Sameer Vashisht, to gather necessary instructions regarding this issue.
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The Court mandated,
“Let instructions be sought by the counsel appearing for GNCTD [Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi] as to what steps have been taken by the authorities concerned to fill up the vacancies and what steps are being taken to ensure that the commission does not close down,”
The matter is set to be revisited in two weeks.
The High Court was addressing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition submitted by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Member of Parliament (MP) Sudhakar Singh.
Advocate Satyam Singha, representing the petitioner, indicated that the Commission has not been operational since January 2024, and mentioned that the DCW office is shut, with staff members having been dismissed.
During the hearing, Advocate Satyam Singh Rajput told the Court that it is extremely ironic that the Chief Minister of Delhi is a woman, yet the Commission responsible for protecting women’s rights is not functioning at all.
He pointed out that the post of Chairperson has remained vacant since January 2024, which has caused what he described as institutional paralysis, complete lack of leadership, and the absence of any proper system for women to place their grievances before the authority.
After listening to these submissions, the Hon’ble Chief Justice issued notice in the PIL and also recorded serious concern about the fact that the Commission continues to remain non-functional. The Court has now listed the matter for the next hearing on 25 February 2026.
The petition has asked for immediate intervention so that the Commission can resume full operations. It seeks a fixed timeline for appointing a new Chairperson, filling all staff vacancies, and ensuring proper oversight so that accountability is maintained and the institution does not collapse further.
The case brings into focus important questions related to constitutional responsibility, functioning of statutory bodies, and the right of women in the National Capital Territory of Delhi to have access to an effective justice and grievance redressal system.
After reviewing the case, the High Court requested the government counsel to obtain further instructions.
Case Detail: W.P.(C) 2305/2026 | CM APPL. 11072/2026, Diary No. 52101/2025
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