New Delhi [India], January 30 : A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court, highlighting the prolonged non-functioning of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW).
The DCW, a statutory body responsible for protecting women's rights, has allegedly been inaccessible and non-functional for an extended period, with no operational helpdesk, officers, or staff to receive complaints.
The PIL, filed by MP Sudhakar Singh and represented by Advocate Satyam Singh Rajput, claims the DCW's office has remained closed during working hours, and the Chairperson's post has been vacant since January 2024, leading to a collapse of essential services like family counselling units and rape crisis cells.
This inaction allegedly violates Articles 14, 15(3), and 21 of the Constitution, denying women access to justice and protection.
According to the petition, the DCW's office has reportedly remained closed during working hours, with no functional helpdesk, officers, or staff available to receive or process complaints from women seeking assistance. The plea further notes that the post of Chairperson has been vacant since January 2024, resulting in a complete absence of leadership, administrative accountability, and effective oversight.
This leadership vacuum, the petition claims, has led to the collapse of essential statutory mechanisms, including family counselling units, rape crisis cells, crisis intervention services, and grievance redressal systemsthereby depriving women of crucial institutional support.
It also noted that the situation is particularly grave given that Delhi continues to report among the highest numbers of crimes against women in the country.
The petitioner seeks judicial intervention to restore the DCW's functioning, ensure adequate staffing, and, within a fixed timeframe, fill the vacant Chairperson post, with all statutory programmes being adequately staffed and operationally ready to prevent future institutional paralysis.
Advocate Satyam Singh Rajput, appearing for the petitioner, stated that a statutory body created to safeguard women's rights "cannot be allowed to exist merely on paper," adding that the Commission's continued dormancy strikes at the core of constitutional governance and women's access to justice.
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