New Delhi, Feb 18 (NationPress) The Delhi High Court has requested the city government's position regarding a public interest litigation (PIL) that claims the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has been non-functional and inaccessible for an extended period, leading to ongoing violations of the constitutional and statutory rights of women in the capital.

The Bench, led by Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya, highlighted that the statutory responsibilities assigned to the DCW mean that these positions “cannot be left unoccupied.” The court has instructed the Delhi government’s representative to provide updates on the measures taken thus far to fill the vacant roles.

The case is set for further proceedings on February 25.

This PIL calls for urgent judicial action to reinstate both the physical and administrative operations of the DCW, which has reportedly become “operationally defunct” due to a lack of leadership and executive inaction.

The petition asserts that despite the DCW's legal obligation to safeguard women from violence, abuse, exploitation, and discrimination, multiple attempts to visit the Commission at its designated location during regular hours showed that the office was “locked and unattended, with no Helpdesk, officers, or staff present to manage grievances.”

Filed by advocate Satyam Singh Rajput, the petition claims that the Chairperson's position at the DCW has been vacant, resulting in a total lack of leadership, administrative guidance, and accountability.

The petitioner argues that this institutional stagnation has triggered a failure of statutory programs like the Sahyogini family counseling unit, the Helpdesk, the Rape Crisis Cell, and Crisis Intervention Centres, consequently denying women immediate institutional support.

“The inactivity of the Commission represents a serious constitutional failure by the State in fulfilling its obligations to women,” stated the PIL, emphasizing that women-focused statutory bodies “cannot be allowed to become dormant due to executive negligence.”

The PIL also mentioned that comprehensive representations were made to the Delhi Chief Secretary and the Lieutenant Governor, highlighting the continued inactivity of the DCW and the serious constitutional implications arising from it.

However, “despite the seriousness of the issues presented, no effective remedial actions were undertaken,” forcing the petitioner to approach the Delhi High Court. The petitioner is seeking various reliefs, including directives for the authorities to “immediately restore and ensure comprehensive physical and administrative operations” of the DCW, appoint sufficient officers and staff, and fill the vacant Chairperson position within a specified timeframe.

Additionally, the PIL requests orders for a public announcement clarifying the operational status and accessibility of the DCW, alongside filing periodic compliance reports to the Delhi High Court that outline the steps taken to ensure operational compliance.