A legislation was enacted by the State Governor, Satya Pal Malik nearly three months back to pave the legal and well devised framework to ensure protection of the rights of the comparatively vulnerable sections of the society , viz women and children. We also know that the violation of their rights continuously show a rising trend and that too in respect of those instances and cases, which are reported or come into the limelight. There are numerous such instances which are not reported or are not reflected due to various reasons while compiling data. The legislation had a very concerted and pointed aim , that of setting up of a Commission to look into the entire gamut of the issue. It was also mooted that reasonably sufficient number of courts too would simultaneously be set up for purposes of having reported cases of offences tried speedily to deliver justice to the aggrieved.
It is, however, disappointing to find that no steps are appearing to have been taken by the State Administration towards formally establishing a Commission or initiating steps for setting up of designated courts. We are within our rights to ask about the purpose of showing the urgency in enacting a legislation when the objectives behind it are not achieved. What has happened to the move of several nominations having reached the destined echelons of the administration in respect of the posts of the Chairperson and Members on the Commission in response to the Government notifications? There should have been a process of how would the commission be constituted, the time frame of its becoming fully operational, how would the selection committee make selections out of nominations received, the broader criteria etc as decided by the Chief of the Social Welfare Department, presently the Advisor to the Governor, all about which a cloud of uncertainty is presently prevailing. Such an attitude is fraught with the offshoots leading to delays and deferments in respect of an issue of such a sensitivity.
No society and for that matter any country in itself, could be termed as progressive, liberal , dynamic and enlightened where women and children are not accorded special attention and priority in respect of protecting their rights and dignity , the onus of which largely falls on the Governments and the people . This State does not have any dearth of those people who are on record having done commendable work and raised concern and voice for protection and welfare of women and children and thus could be considered as eligible for the important post of the Chairperson of the proposed Commission. We feel that more than three months could be considered time enough for undertaking the entire exercise which appear to have gone waste. The Commission would look exclusively and wholly towards the objective for its setting up like investigating, examining and reviewing all those matters which are related to the safeguards provided for these vulnerable sections of the society.
There are well defined constitutional safeguards and other provisions therein, relating to welfare and safeguarding the rights and the dignity of women and children which the proposed Commission would take up in respect of the specific cases of violations in this regard. It must be ensured that those women and children get emancipated in real terms by getting justice and proper safeguards who have suffered on account of acts of terrorism, communal violence, riots, domestic violence, maltreatment, torture and exploitation. We hardly need to impress upon the fact as to what the Commission could do in meting out the desired quantum of justice and fair play on parity to the affected individuals under these two categories but the question is when shall the Commission be established to work towards its assigned role.
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