GoMs approves giving civil court powers to NCW

The National Commission for Women (NCW) is set to get more teeth with a Group of Ministers (GoMs) headed by Arun Jaitley approving according powers of a civil court to the body.
The seven-member group, headed by the Finance Minister, has approved several amendments to the National Commission for Women (NCW) Act, 1990 and the changes would now be put up before the cabinet for its consideration.
The GoMs, formed last month to look into the matter, reviewed and approved the amendments yesterday, said a senior Women and Child Development Ministry official.
"This is a major development towards empowering the NCW and now the bill will be placed before the Cabinet," said the official.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari are among its other members.
The Ministry's earlier proposal to provide the Commission with punitive powers to arrest and penalise people guilty of harassing women and ignoring its summons was removed after the Law Ministry expressed disapproval to the same citing these were the domain of the police and the judiciary.

As per the proposed amendments, NCW will have all powers of a civil court and thus would be able to summon and ask the concerned to furnish relevant information before it.
"The commission to have all powers of a civil court trying a suit while investigating any matter, and in particular in respect of matters like summoning and enforcing the attendance and examining on oath, discovery and production of any document, receiving evidence on affidavits, requisitioning any record from any court or office.

"Every proceeding before the commission shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of Sections 193 and 228 and for the purpose of Section 196 of the IPC," according to the amendments.
The commission can also utilise services of any officer or investigation agency of the Centre or state governments for the purpose of investigation. Its main functions will be to investigate and examine all matters relating to the safeguards provided to women under the Constitution and other laws and review the existing laws and suggest amendments or remedial legislative measures.