THE Delhi High Court today cautioned Crimes Against Women (CAW) Cell against using “coercive measures” after receiving complaints about the “overzealous tactics” employed by the women’s protection body.
Known widely as the first gender-specific response by police to combat violent crimes against women, the CAW acts as a nodal body to receive and intervene in complaints received from various quarters.
Drawing the line on the powers enjoyed by the cell, the High Court categorically stated that CAW should merely act as a reconciliatory body and has no power to investigate or summon persons against whom complaints have been lodged against by women.
“CAW Cell has no power to investigate a case. It is merely a reconciliatory body created to help women who consider themselves to be victims,” Justice S N Dhingra said.
The Bench added that at the most, the Cell could only write letters to persons against whom complaints were made.
The court made the observations while taking strong exception to an incident in which the CAW had sent a police party to the residence of Gaurav Matta, a trader in the Capital, after he failed to appear before the body despite issuing notice.
The Cell was acting on a complaint filed by Gaurav’s wife, Monika, accusing him of harassment.
Giving Matta liberty to not appear before the CAW Cell, the court directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police, CAW, to appear before it on the next date of hearing.