Chairperson of National Commission for Women Rekha Sharma (L). File.
| Photo Credit: Ok. Murali Kumar
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has mentioned that it has no information on whether or not its Chairperson and Members are members of any political celebration.
Replying to a question below the Right to Information Act, 2005, whether or not the Chairperson or Member is usually a member of a political celebration and, if that’s the case, what number of had such political affiliations, the Public Information Officer (PIO) replied that the NCW was a statutory physique arrange by the NCW Act, 1990, below the aegis of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The Chairperson and Members of the Commission are nominated by the Government of India.
To particular questions, which additionally included one on whether or not the Chairperson and Members might take part in political conferences, and if they need to not then what authorized and different motion might be taken in opposition to them, the PIO replied, “From the records in this office, no such information is available.”
When contacted, petitioner Raj Kapil, an Assistant Professor in Criminology, mentioned within the final one 12 months he had been witnessing one of the NCW Members attending political celebration occasions and campaigns of the Bharatiya Janata Party. At the time of nomination to the NCW, she was serving as a member of the BJP’s nationwide govt committee.
“I do not know whether other members are also also members of political parties. Being a quasi-judicial commission with powers of a civil court, the NCW is tasked to investigate and examine all matters relating to the safeguards for women under the Constitution and other laws. The Chairperson/Members also look into complaints and take suo moto notice of matters relating to deprivation of women’s rights,” he mentioned.
Moreover, the NCW additionally had the duty to judge the progress of the event of ladies below the Union and State governments. “With this being the mandate, the Chairperson or Member should not be a member of any political party, at least for the term of office to uphold the principle of neutrality and serving without any fear or favour,” he mentioned.
Mr. Kapil mentioned the NCW’s reply stating that “no information is available” would solely result in bigger questions on transparency and accountability instantly, casting aspersions on the choices of the Chairperson or Members and whether or not they had been serving with none political bias.
He mentioned if there was no rule barring the NCW Chairperson or Members being affiliated to political events on the time of appointment, then there was an pressing want to alter the norms within the bigger curiosity of neutrality and justice. Mr. Kapil added that he would attraction in opposition to the reply of the PIO since it was “incomplete and improper”.