Complaint & Investigation Cell

• Processes  the complaints received orally in writing or online via official website National Commission for Women.

• Deals with the complaints received from all over the country including those relating to deprivation of rights of women and involving injustice to women takes suo motu cognizance of incidents related to commission of heinous crimes against women U/S 10 of the National Commission Act, 1990

Scrutiny of Complaints

• The complaints received are  scrutinised as per Commission’s mandate and adopted procedure to handle complaints

• The complaints which falls within the Commission’s mandate and adopted procedure to handle complaints are registered under 19 identified categories

• The complaints of the following nature are  summarily dismissed:-

  1. Complaints which are illegible or vague, anonymous or pseudonymous;

  2. The issue raised relates to civil dispute between the parties;

  3. The issue raised relates to service matters;

  4. Matter is sub judice before a Court/Tribunal;

  5.  Complaints which are already pending before a State Commission or any other Commission

  6. Complaints only endorsed to the Commission

  7. Complaints involving no deprivation of women rights

Heads Under Which Complaints Are Registered

1. Rape / Attempt to rape

2. Acid Attack

3. Sexual Assault

4. Sexual harassment

5. Stalking / Voyeurism

6. Trafficking / prostitution of women

7. Outraging modesty of women / Molestation 

8. Cyber crimes against women

9. Police Apathy against women

10. Harassment of married women / Dowry Harassment

11. Dowry Death

12. Bigamy / Polygamy

13. Protection of women against Domestic Violence

14. Women’s right of custody of children / Divorce

15. Right to exercise choice in marriage / Honour Crimes

16. Right to live with dignity

17. Sexual Harassment of women at workplace

18. Denial of maternity benifits to women

19. Gender discrimination including eqaul right to education and work

20. Indecent representation of women

21. Sex Selective Abortions; Female Foeticide / Amniocentesis

22. Traditional practices derogatory to women rights like Sati Pratha, Devdasi Pratha and Witch Hunting

23. Free legal aid for women

Processing of Complaints

To provide adequate relief to the complainant and ensure suitable redressal of her grievances. The complaints are acted upon in the following manner :

1. Investigations by the police are expedited and monitored.

2. Family disputes are resolved or compromised through counseling or hearing  before the Commission.. For serious crimes, the Commission constitutes an Inquiry Committee which makes spot enquiries, examines various witnesses, collects evidence and submits the report with recommendations. Such investigations help in providing immediate relief and justice to the victims of violence and atrocities. The implementation of the report is monitored by the NCW. There is a provision for having experts/lawyers on these committees.

3. A few complaints are also forwarded to the respective State Commissions for Women and other forums like the National Human Rights Commission, National Commission for Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe, etc., for disposal of the complaints at their end.

4. In respect of complaints related to sexual harassment of women at their workplaces, the concerned organizations or departments are urged to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee(ICC) as per the mandatory provisions Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal ) Act, 2013 in order  to inquire into such complaints. The Commission regularly monitored and takes up these complaints with the concerned organizations/departments to expedite the disposal of the complaints by following the statutory provisions.

Analysis of Complaints:-

1. The complaints received show the trend of crimes against women and suggests systemic changes needed for reduction in crimes.

2. The complaints are analyzed to understand the gaps in routine functioning of government in tackling violence against women and to suggest corrective measures.

3. The complaints are also used as case studies for sensitization programmes for the police, judiciary, prosecutors, forensic scientists, defense lawyers and other administrative functionaries.