Two Statutory Panels on Women, Children Defunct as Crime Graph Climbs

AT a time when the state is witnessing a spike in crimes against women and children, two statutory bodies under the Women and Child Development department that are meant to take up such cases and facilitate speedy justice to victims are lying defunct.

- DIANA SAHU @Bhubaneswar

The Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) and Odisha State Commission for Women (OSCW) are non-functional since March this year and November last year, respectively.

The state government had in March this year dismissed the then chairperson of OSCPCR and five other members, basing on various allegations leveled against them. A show-cause notice was issued to them on November 16 last year.

Kar and the others had challenged the notice in Orissa High Court, which had dismissed their petition after reviewing the facts.