HC pulls up Women Commission for inaction

Bilaspur, Mar 10 (UNI) The Chhattisgarh High Court has pulled up the state's Women Commission for alleged laxity in a dowry harassment case.

Expressing displeasure over the Commission's working, a division bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice Vijay Kumar Shrivastava yesterday asked whether it should write to the government to dismiss the commission for its neglect of constitutional responsibilities.

The court directed Commission Chairperson Sudha Varma, who was present, to submit a modified affidavit stating action taken on a complaint of dowry harassment in fulfillment of its constitutional responsibilities. In an earlier affidavit, the commission merely said it had taken action on a complaint.

The division bench also expressed its displeasure over the absence of the Superintendent of Police, Durg and refused to hear a subordinate police official, instead.

Commission Chairperson and SP, Durg were earlier directed to personally appear before the bench hearing a letter petition filed by a resident of Kharora in Raipur district stating that an attempt was made by Durg-based in-laws of his daughter Niti Agarwal to burn her and the Commission did not act on the complaint. Police had also slept over it despite registering a case.

The high court fixed next hearing on March 16.

UNI