Delhi’s fight against gender crimes faces a major setback. The Delhi Commission for Women lies dormant, prompting a PIL in the High Court by activist Sudhakar Singh of RJD. He calls for its immediate resuscitation amid escalating violence.
The commission halted in January 2024 after chairperson Swati Maliwal’s departure to Rajya Sabha. No replacements followed. By May, 223 contractual employees were axed, emptying the office. Key facilities—counseling, crisis cells for rape survivors, complaint forums—stand abandoned.
This negligence, the petition claims, tramples Articles 14, 15(3), and 21, denying women equality, special protections, and dignified living. Delhi government’s delay is under fire.
Demands are clear: expedite chairperson and member appointments within deadlines, restore workforce, relaunch redressal systems. Court supervision for ongoing compliance is proposed.
DCW was pivotal in empowering women through direct aid and advocacy. Its current inertia burdens an already strained system. Judicial intervention could mark a turning point, safeguarding Delhi’s women from institutional abandonment.