Question : National Commission for Women

(a) the powers/rights vested with the National Commission for Women to safeguard and promote the rights and interests of women;
(b) whether the Government proposes to confer judicial powers to the Commission and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to reduce the number of pending cases in courts by conferring such powers to the Commission;
(d) if so, the action plan in this regard; and
(e) the further measures taken to grant more powers/rights and autonomy to the Commission?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)


(a) The National Commission for Women draws its powers under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.

(b) Under Section 10(4) of National Commission for Women Act, 1990, the National Commission for Women has all the powers of a civil court trying a suit while investigating or examining all matters relating to safeguards provided to women under the Constitution and other laws and while looking into complaints and taking suo moto notice of matters relating to deprivation of women’s rights and in particular in respect of the following matters, namely:-

(i) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of India and examining him on oath;

(ii) requiring the discovery and production of any document;

(iii) receiving evidence on affidavits;

(iv) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office;

(v) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents; and

(vi) any other matter which may be prescribed.

(c) & (d): No, Madam.

(e): In accordance with its mandate, the National Commission for Women is playing a constructive role in empowering women and improving their socio-economic conditions. Accordingly no changes are envisaged in the powers and authority of the Commission at this stage.

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