The Supreme Court raised serious concerns over the Delhi Commission for Women being non-functional, questioning the government about support for women in distress. The court highlighted that the DCW has no chairperson or staff and called for urgent action.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the apparent closure of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) and questioned the government about the fate of women in distress.
A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan asked Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave, representing the Delhi government, to take immediate steps to address the issue.
“It’s closed. Where will the women in distress go? They don’t have chairperson. They don’t have staff. It’s all in shambles,”
the top court observed, referring to recent media reports indicating that the DCW is currently non-functional.
The remarks were made while the court was hearing a child trafficking case, during which it passed several directions to ensure the expeditious trial of such matters. In response, Dave assured the bench that she would look into the closure of the commission.
The Mahila Aayog office, located at Vikas Bhawan in New Delhi, has been practically closed since January 2024 because it has no chairperson.
Sources revealed that in May 2024, the Women and Child Development Department of the Delhi government removed more than 200 contractual staffers following alleged irregularities in the hiring process.
The post of chairperson of the DCW has remained vacant since Swati Maliwal was elected to the Rajya Sabha in January 2024.
Furthermore, the commission’s official website currently lists the chairperson position and its four members, including the member secretary, as vacant.
Established in 1994 under the Delhi Commission for Women Act, the DCW was set up to investigate and examine all matters relating to the safeguards provided for women under the Constitution and other laws. Its mandate includes addressing abuse, exploitation, providing counselling, rescue services, and legal assistance to women in need.
The DCW website states,
“The Commission functions in the manner of a Civil Court and strives to ensure aims envisaged in the Act through its various programmes like Sahyogini, Mahila Panchayats, Rape Crisis Cell, Mobile Help Line and Pre Marital Counselling Cell,”
The commission’s jurisdiction covers the entire National Capital Territory of Delhi. It was established to ensure that women’s rights are protected and that any complaints or grievances of women are addressed efficiently, but the current vacancy and staff shortage have severely hindered its functioning.
With the commission currently non-functional, the Supreme Court’s concerns highlight a critical gap in the support system for women in distress in Delhi, emphasizing the urgent need for government intervention to restore the DCW’s operations.
Click Here to Read Our Reports on DCW
