AJAY JAGANNATH PAWAR Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. Ravi Kadam, learned Advocate General. It is submitted that a meeting was held on 6th March 2006 which was attended by Secretary, Women and Child Welfare department, DCP Sanjav Aparanti, mrs. Rashmi Shukla, DIG and the Government Pleader, High Court, Mumbai, in the chamber of Advocate General and discussion was held regarding the guidelines which have been framed for the purpose of providing helpline to married women who are in distress. He pointed out Secretary, women and Child Welfare Department had placed the administrative guidelines issued by the Mahila Ayog in the said meeting. It was also discussed that it is essential to provide helpline in all districts which has a common number like 100 which is given to the police and this could be open through the telephone companies whereby facility of a common number could be provided for the purpose of providing this service to the married women in distress. It is further discussed that Counselling centres could be established in the districts with the assistance of the Zilla Parishad.

(2.) It is heartening to note that the State government has taken this issue on a war footing and has held its meetings to resolve this peculiar problem which has been noticed by this Court. A problem of this magnitude cannot be solved within a time bound programme and what is essential is that some beginning is made in taking steps in the right direction to curb the menace of dowry and other causes which results in married women taking their own lives or being subjected to mental or physical harassment. Since this is a very serious area within which the Government has to operate, in my view, in the meeting which was held on 6th March, 2006, certain suggestion has been given by the learned advocate General, the Government Pleader and the Secretary, Women and Child Welfare department.

(3.) Since the guidelines have been given by the Mahila Ayog, it would be proper to consider the views and steps which are taken by the said Mahila Ayog which has been established by the Government. The secretary. Women and Child Welfare Department, therefore, is directed to file a detailed affidavit stating therein the steps which it intends to take in order to ensure the guidelines which are framed, are implemented throughout Maharashtra. The secretary also to state in the affidavit the financial assistance which it would require for the purpose of implementing this scheme so that the Government can be requested to render financial assistance required to implement the scheme.