Chapter III Chapter III

Functions of The Commission following functions namely:-

1. (a) To investigate and examine all matters relating to the safeguards provided for women under existing laws;
2. (b) To present to the State Government, annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards for women;
3. (c) To make in such reports recommendations for the effective implementation of those safeguards for improving the conditions of women in the State;
4. (d) To review, from time to time, the existing provisions and laws affecting women and recommend amendments thereto so as to suggest remedial legislative measures to meet any lacunae, inadequacies or shortcomings in such legislation's;
5. (e) To take up all cases of atrocities against women in the State and violation of laws relating to women with the appropriate authorities.
6. (f) Look into complaints and take suo motu notice of matters relating to the following subjects:-
   • (i) deprivation of women's rights;
   • (ii) non-implementation of laws enacted to provide protection to women and also to achieve the objective of equality and development;
   • (iii) non-compliance of policy decisions, guidelines or instructions aimed at mitigating hardships and ensuring welfare and providing relief to women; and take up the issues arising out of such matters with appropriate authorities;
7. (g) call for special studies or investigations into specific problems or situations arising out of discrimination and identify the constrains so as to recommend strategies for their removal;
8. (h) undertake promotional and educational research so as to suggest ways and ensuring due representation of women in all spheres and identify factors responsible for impending their advancement, such as, lack of access to housing and basic services, inadequate support services and technologies for reducing drudgery and occupational health hazards and for increasing their productivity;
   • (i) participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of women;
9. (j) evaluate the progress of the development of women under the State;
10. (k) inspect or cause to be inspected a jail, remand homes, women's institution or other place of custody where women are kept as prisioners or otherwise, and take up with the concerned authorities for remedial action, if found necessary;
11. (l) fund litigation involving issues affecting a large body of women;
12. (m) make periodical reports to the Government on any matter pertaining to women and in particular various difficulties under which women suffer;
13. (n) any other matter which may be referred to it by State Government.

1. (2) The State Government shall cause all the reports referred in clause (b) of Sub- section (1) to be laid before each House of Legislature along with a Memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations relating to the State and the reasons for the non-acceptance, if any, or any of such recommendations.
2. (3) The Commission shall, while investigating any matter referred to in clause (a) of sub- section (i) and sub-clause (i) of clause (f) have all the powers of a Civil Court trying a suit, and in particular in respect of the following matters, namely.-
   • (a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of India and examining him on oath;
   • (b) requiring the discovery and production of any document;
   • (c) receiving evidence on affidavits;
   • (d) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office;
   • (e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents; and
   • (f) any other matter which may be prescribed.