HC asks state, panels to monitor laws protecting women, children

Madurai: Madras high court has directed the Tamil Nadu govt, state commission for women, state commission for protection of child rights, and other stakeholders to monitor the effective implementation of laws enacted to protect women and children.The direction came on a public interest litigation filed in 2019 by Karthikeya Sivasenapathy and Karuppasamy Pandian, highlighting the rise in heinous crimes against women and children. The petitioners sought the constitution of an all-women protection committee headed by a retired woman judge of the high court. In response, the authorities informed the court that Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women had already been constituted through a govt order issued in 2017. The commission is headed by a retired IAS officer and includes a woman IAS officer, IPS officers, and women MLAs. Inspector general of police, south zone, also submitted a report outlining steps taken by the police to curb crimes against women and children. A division bench of Justice G Jayachandran and Justice K K Ramakrishnan observed that if the commission functioned in line with its mandate, the protection of women and children would be substantially addressed. The judges also noted that the social welfare and women empowerment department had formulated a standard operating procedure (SOP) and issued a government order on June 18, 2025. While the SOP lays down clear guidelines for protecting women at workplaces, the bench said it could also be extended to children in schools and other institutions. Taking note of the measures already in place, the court directed all concerned agencies to monitor the enforcement of statutory protections and disposed of the petition.