National Commission for Women: constituted under section 3 of its Act with a Chairperson, five Members and a Member-Secretary

Background

The National Commission for Women is the body constituted under section 3 of the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 (Act 20 of 1990). The Act carries the date 30th August, 1990 and was brought into force on 31.1.1992. Under section 3 the Central Government shall constitute the body, and the Commission shall consist of a Chairperson, committed to the cause of women, five Members and a Member-Secretary, all to be nominated by the Central Government. A proviso requires that at least one Member each shall be from amongst persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes respectively. Under section 10 the Commission shall investigate and examine all matters relating to the safeguards provided for women under the Constitution and other laws, review, from time to time, the existing provisions of the Constitution and other laws affecting women and recommend amendments thereto, and look into complaints and take suo motu notice of matters relating to deprivation of women's rights. While investigating such matters the Commission shall have all the powers of a Civil Court trying a suit, in particular summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of India and examining him on oath. The Central Government shall cause the reports upon the working of those safeguards to be laid before each House of Parliament alongwith a memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations.