Discuss the crucial role played by the National Commission of Women in shaping the discourse on gender-sensitive laws in India. To what extent the elevation of the National Commission for Women to a constitutional body would reinforce its authority?

1. Empowerment and voice to women
2. Highlighting gender specific issues
3. Providing studies & Datas e.g. NCW data shows increased Domestic violence in country during Pandemic.
4. Role in policy-making and lobbying for women's right → work as a "Pressure group"

Constitutional status to NCW

(1) Provide more power (2) Constitutional driven mechanism will give strength → enforcing more coercively (3) Specific qualification, limitations, tenure of members etc will remove all arbitrariness. (4) Constitutionality will elevate status of body → more assertive working. → e.g. NCST (Art 338A), NCBC (Art 338B) (5) The clear VISION and MISSION plus directing mechanism (6) Composition will be inclusive → e.g. members from diverse gender.

However not a panacea

(1) Enforcement and implementation still remain a challenge.

(2) Power of civil courts is still there → Not able to harness that potentially.

(3) Earlier examples & experiences → Eg: NCBC (Art 338 B) through 102nd CAA → Not that much useful.

(4) Addressing core issues → Panacea → Eg: fund, Infrastructure

Way forward → Empowering NCW with own charter & clear vision, mission and jurisdiction → Gender inclusive composition → Enforcement power is needed.