Mumbai
The Commission cannot have branches in districts but a facility has to be created at collector offices to assist women in lodging complaints. Don't make the Commission Mumbai centric, says NW Sambre
Updated : Jan 12, 2018, 05:40 AM IST
The Bombay High Court on Thursday suggested that the state government should work on a system that makes it easier for women living outside Mumbai to approach the State Women's Commission with their complaints.
A division bench of Justice Naresh Patil and Justice NW Sambre said, "It is not easy for a woman living in Nashik to travel to Mumbai to lodge a complaint. As per statute, the Commission cannot have branches in districts but a facility has to be created at collector offices to assist women in lodging complaints. Don't make the Commission Mumbai centric."
The court made the suggestion while hearing a PIL filed by activist Vihar Durve. The PIL stated that no one has been appointed after the Commission's former chairperson Susieben Shah resigned in September 2014. Dhurve pointed out that even as the state tops the list of crimes against women, no serious effort is being made towards the appointment in the Women's Commission.
The court has recommended the government to device a system which facilitates women from rural areas to lodge complaints and inform the court about the same on the next date of hearing.