Take instructions of women panel seriously or face music: PSWC head

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 8

Punjab State Women Commission’s (PSWC) Chairperson Manisha Gulati held a Lok Adalat at the local Police Lines here on Monday wherein she listened to the grievances of victims who came from border areas.

Speaking to mediapersons, she pointed out that the women police stations were bound to follow and implement the instructions regarding a case issued by the commission in letter and spirit, but it has come to light that the police stations, including women police stations, ignore the same. She warned that punitive action would be recommended against the officials, who overlook the instructions passed by the commission.

She also pointed out that in order to facilitate the victims belonging to five districts of border belt who could not go to Chandigarh for lodging complaints or during hearings in their cases, the PSWC would set up a camp office in Amritsar so that maximum of victims could approach the commission for help. She further added that it would also recommend the Punjab government for appointing professional counsellors so that both the aggrieved parties could be counselled for reaching a mutual consent for resolving the dispute and saving the families from breaking up.

She said a majority of cases coming to the State Women Commission were of domestic violence. She also said such cases were rising and this was a cause of concern.

Komal, a resident of Makhanwindi village, lodged a complaint with the PSWC, while alleging that she got married to an Army man in June last year. She alleged after three months of marriage, he left her as she was suffering from a skin ailment. She also alleged that her husband also got her one month pregnancy aborted. She said her family had informed about the skin disease to her husband before the marriage.

She alleged her husband was demanding a car in dowry but her father could not meet the illegitimate demand. She said though they lodged a complaint with the police, it did nothing. She alleged an uncle of her husband was in the police who was threatening of lodging false cases against her family.