NCW steers clear of Delhi Police Commissioner controversy

New Delhi, July 26 (UNI) At a time when women organisations are rallying behind Dr Kiran Bedi, who was superseded in the appointment of the Delhi Police Commissioner, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has steered clear of the controversy, describing it as an ''administrative'' decision.

''Dr Bedi is a very accomplished and capable officer...we are proud of her. But the appointment of the Police Commissioner is an administrative decision...It is natural that some people will feel hurt by it,'' National Commission of Women (NCW) Chairperson Girija Vyas told a news conference today.

Repeatedly skirting questions on whether the Commission will support Dr Bedi, the first woman IPS officer, in making a case for herself, Dr Vyas said, ''had a woman being appointed to the post the Commission would have welcomed it.'' The NCW chairperson also declined to comment on whether Dr Bedi, who since the announcement of the appointment has proceeded on three-month leave in protest, was a victim of gender discrimination.

''If gender discrimination exists in the services it should be rooted out from top to bottom , at all levels. It is matter we must do research upon,'' she observed.

However, Dr Vyas hailed Mrs Pratibha D Patil's election as the first woman President of India, saying her victory was a symbol of women empowerment.

Dr Bedi, a 1972 batch officer, lost the race for the post to her junior Mr Y S Dadwal, a 1974 batch Indian Police Service officer of the Union Territory Cadre.

The Magsaysay Award winner is presently Director General, Bureau of Police Research and Development.

Known for her reformist policies and 'tough cop' image, Ms Bedi, whose name had cropped up several times whenever a vacancy for the top cop slot arose, was bitter in her reaction to the government decision.

Lashing out against the decision, she said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had been unfair to her.

''It is complete injustice to me and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has let me down. I am completely disappointed with the government and the bureaucracy,'' she told the media.

''This sends a very wrong message where merit and seniority was given a go-by and only those who toe the official line were rewarded,'' she added.

Asked what she plans to do in the wake of being superseded, Dr Bedi said, ''all options, including legal, are open.'' UNI