Government considers proposal to give power to arrest to NCW

New Delhi: Government is mulling giving punitive powers to arrest, search and seize to National Commission for Women (NCW) in matters of domestic violence, police apathy and sexual harassment at work place and plans to extend NCW's jurisdiction to Jammu and Kashmir.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has prepared a Cabinet note which proposes that the jurisdiction of NCW should be extended to the Jammu and Kashmir, sources in WCD ministry said. In matters of domestic violence, police apathy and sexual harassment at work place, the Ministry has proposed to give NCW the power to investigate, search, seize, issue warrant and arrest, they said.

A Director General of Police (DGP) rank official will assist NCW in the investigations. "The extension of jurisdiction has been proposed so that the women victims in the state (J&K )could have a forum for redressal," a senior official said. According to the note, NCW will also have some CrPC powers.