National Commission for Women

Background and evolution

The idea of a national body for women came from "Towards Equality", the 1974 report of the Committee on the Status of Women in India, which documented the gap between constitutional promises and women's lives. The National Perspective Plan for Women (1988) repeated the demand. Parliament passed the National Commission for Women Act in 1990, and the first Commission was constituted on 31 January 1992 with Jayanti Patnaik as chairperson.

Over three decades the Commission has handled complaints of domestic violence, dowry, workplace harassment and cybercrime, reviewed laws such as those on rape and dowry, and pushed for changes in policy. States have their own State Commissions for Women under state laws.

Key features and provisions

• Composition: a chairperson committed to the cause of women; five members from fields such as law, trade unions, women's organisations, administration and education, with at least one each from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; a member-secretary. All are nominated by the Union government for up to three years.
• Functions: investigate matters relating to legal safeguards for women; review existing laws and suggest amendments; look into complaints and take suo motu notice of rights violations; inspect jails and remand homes; fund litigation on issues affecting women; and present annual reports to the Union government, which are laid before Parliament.
• Powers: while inquiring, it has the powers of a civil court: summoning witnesses, requiring documents, receiving evidence on affidavit and requisitioning public records.
• Advisory status: its recommendations are not binding.