Delhi High court quashes summons by Meghalaya State Commisision for Women

The Delhi High court quashed on Tuesday the summons issued by Meghalaya State Commission for Women in connection with the alleged discrimination against a tribal woman at the Delhi Golf Club. The court stated that the commission did not have any jurisdiction to send notices.

"The state women commission's order summoning the petitioner is quashed," said Justice Vibhu Bhakru, while allowing the petition of the Delhi Golf Club.

The State commission had summoned the Delhi Golf Club Secretary after a tribal woman, Tailin Lyngdoh, was asked to leave the dining room as her traditional Khasi attire looked like a 'maid's uniform" to staffers.

On July 13, the high court had stayed the state commission's order summoning the secretary. The commission had directed the secretary of the club to appear before it in person on July 14.

This was challenged by the club, which, in its plea, argued that the commission in Meghalaya did not have jurisdiction to issue such a direction on an incident that happened outside the state.

Lyngdoh, a governess, had complained to the state commission accusing the club and its members of allowing racial profiling of people, which was tantamount to racial discrimination of tribal people, a punishable offence.

The chairperson of the MSCW said the Prime Minister's Office and the National Commission for Women had taken note of the incident, and the National Commission for Schedule Tribes and the National Commission for Human Rights had also been petitioned.