Madras High Court directs state to monitor implementation of laws protecting women and children

The petitioner also suggested the scope of activity and responsibility of the said commission.

In response to the PIL, the Inspector General of Police, South Zone, Madurai, filed his report stating the measures taken by the police department to control the crime against women and children.

The chairperson, Tamil Nadu women commission, who is a retired IAS officer also filed a counter, wherein it was reported that the social welfare department in the state has constituted a women commission consisting of a chairperson and 7 members with the Principal Secretary to the Government, Social Welfare and Nutritional Meal Programme Department as ex-officio member and the director of social welfare department as member secretary.

It was further pointed out that the composition of the Women Commission consists of a women IAS officer, IPS officers and also women members of legislative assembly.

The counsel for the state also produced the SOP formulated by the social welfare and women empowerment department.

The court noted that the Standard Operating Procedure is more explicit in providing guidelines for protection of women at work place. It added that the same Standard Operating Procedure can be applied to children in schools and other places.

Considering the measures taken by the Government in taking forward the responsibility of protecting women and children, the court directed, “we are inclined to dispose of this Writ Petition, with a direction to the respondents 1 (state), 4 (police), 5 (women commission) and 9 (commission for protection of child rights) to monitor with the other stake holders, the implementation of the statutes which are enacted for the protection of women and children.”