National Commission for Women Act, 1990

Suppose a woman in a small town is turned away by the police when she tries to report a wrong done to her, and she does not know which court to approach or whether she can afford one. Criminal courts and civil courts exist, but someone must also watch whether the laws made for women are working at all. That is the job Parliament gave to a standing body in 1990. The National Commission for Women is not a court and cannot convict or award damages. Its power lies in investigation, reports and recommendation. The exam question is always the same: what can it do, and what can it not do?

In two minutes

The National Commission for Women is a statutory body created by the National Commission for Women Act 1990 to review the legal safeguards for women, inquire into complaints and violations and advise the Government; it investigates and recommends, but it does not adjudicate.

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