Last Updated: October 18, 2025 Reading Time: 9 minutes Applies to: All women in Bihar, social organizations, legal advocates
At a Glance
The Bihar State Commission for Women is a powerful statutory body created to protect and promote women’s rights across Bihar. If you’re a woman facing discrimination, violence, or denial of rights, or if you work in women’s welfare, this Commission has the legal authority to investigate complaints, inspect institutions, and even force authorities to take action.
Table of Contents
- Understanding the Bihar State Commission for Women
- Who Runs the Commission?
- What Can the Commission Do for You?
- How the Commission Protects Your Rights
- Filing Complaints and Taking Action
- The Commission’s Special Powers
- Financial Transparency and Accountability
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What This Means for You
Understanding the Bihar State Commission for Women
What is This Law?
The Bihar State Commission for Women Act, 1999, created a dedicated government body to safeguard women’s rights and welfare across the state. Think of it as a watchdog organization with legal teeth – it can investigate problems, summon officials, inspect institutions, and push for changes in laws that affect women.
Official Name: The Bihar State Commission for Women Act, 1999 Enacted: 1999 (Act No. 6 of 1999) Purpose: To ensure women in Bihar get fair treatment under the law, to investigate violations of women’s rights, and to recommend improvements in policies and laws affecting women
Does This Apply to You?
This Commission exists to help you if you are:
- Any woman living in Bihar facing discrimination or rights violations
- A victim of violence, harassment, or atrocities
- Denied benefits under laws meant to protect women
- Working in social welfare, NGOs, or women’s organizations
- Concerned about women’s conditions in jails, remand homes, or institutions
The Commission cannot:
- Replace courts for criminal prosecution (but can support your case)
- Provide direct financial assistance (but can recommend policy changes)
- Override court judgments (but can investigate implementation failures)
Who Runs the Commission?
Commission Structure Made Simple
The Commission isn’t just another government office – it’s designed to represent Bihar’s diversity and bring real expertise to women’s issues.
Leadership:
- 1 Chairperson → A woman committed to women’s causes, nominated by the State Government
- 7 Non-official Women Members → Experts from different backgrounds
- 2 Official Members → Government representatives (Welfare Department and Home Department)
- 1 Member-Secretary → Managing Director of Bihar State Women Development Corporation (automatically included)
Why the Composition Matters
The law ensures voices from all communities are heard:
Mandatory Representation:
- 1 member from Scheduled Castes with social service experience
- 1 member from Scheduled Tribes with social service experience
- 1 member from Minority communities with social service experience
- 1 member from Backward Classes with social service experience
- 1 member with law or legislation experience
- 1 member from NGOs, Trade Unions, or industry focused on women’s employment
- 1 member with social welfare, administration, health, or education experience
Important Note: The Chairperson and all non-official members MUST be women. This isn’t optional – it’s written into the law.
How Long Do Members Serve?
- Term: Up to 3 years as specified by the State Government
- Position Type: Honorary and voluntary (no salary, but travel and daily allowances provided)
- Can be removed if: They become insolvent, convicted of crimes, declared unsound mind, miss three consecutive meetings without leave, or abuse their position
What Can the Commission Do for You?
The Commission has 13 major functions that directly impact your life. Here’s what they mean in practical terms:
1. Review Existing Laws Protecting Women
The Commission examines whether laws meant to protect you are actually working. If they find problems, they report to the government with recommendations.
2. Investigate Violations and Atrocities
When women face violence, harassment, or denial of rights, the Commission can step in and investigate with the authority of a Civil Court.
3. Handle Your Complaints
You can file complaints about:
- Deprivation of your rights as a woman
- Laws not being implemented (like workplace harassment laws, domestic violence protection)
- Government schemes not reaching you despite being eligible
- Any discrimination you face because you’re a woman
4. Take Action on Its Own
The Commission doesn’t always wait for complaints. It can take suo motu notice – meaning if they learn about a problem affecting women, they can start investigating even if no one filed a complaint.
5. Inspect Women’s Institutions
The Commission can visit and inspect:
- Jails where women are imprisoned
- Remand homes
- Women’s shelters and institutions
- Any place where women are in custody
If they find problems, they force authorities to fix them.
6. Recommend New Laws
The Commission reviews existing laws and suggests amendments or new legislation to close gaps in women’s protection.
7. Fund Legal Cases
When an issue affects many women, the Commission can fund the litigation – meaning they’ll help pay for the legal fight.
8. Research and Education
They conduct studies to understand:
- Why women aren’t advancing in certain areas
- What barriers prevent women from accessing housing, services, technology
- How to reduce women’s work burden and health hazards
- How to increase women’s representation in all fields
9. Advise on Development Planning
The government must consult the Commission on development plans affecting women’s socio-economic progress.
10. Monitor Women’s Progress
The Commission tracks how well women are doing across Bihar in education, employment, health, and other areas.
The Commission’s Special Powers
When investigating your complaint or any matter related to women’s rights violations, the Commission has the same powers as a Civil Court. This is huge. It means they can:
Legal Powers
Summon Anyone: The Commission can call any person from anywhere in India to appear before them and testify under oath.
Demand Documents: They can require any authority or person to produce documents, files, or evidence.
Accept Affidavits: Written sworn statements can be submitted as evidence.
Get Government Records: They can demand copies of any public record from any court or government office.
Send Commissions: They can appoint people to examine witnesses or collect documents on their behalf.
What this means: Authorities cannot ignore the Commission. When they ask for information or action, it carries legal weight.
Filing Complaints and Taking Action
How to Approach the Commission
While the Act doesn’t specify the exact complaint filing procedure, here’s what you need to know:
You can approach the Commission for:
- Discrimination at workplace
- Denial of rights under women protection laws
- Violence or atrocities against women
- Government schemes not being implemented
- Harassment in police stations or courts
- Problems in women’s institutions
- Any violation of laws protecting women
What Happens Next:
- Commission examines your complaint
- If valid, they can investigate using their Civil Court powers
- They can summon officials or accused persons
- They take up the matter with appropriate authorities
- They can recommend action or policy changes
The Commission Can Also:
- Make special committees to handle specific cases
- Co-opt experts who aren’t Commission members to help with investigations
- Take emergency action in urgent matters
Financial Transparency and Accountability
The Commission isn’t a closed box – it operates with full transparency:
Money Matters
Funding: The State Government provides grants after approval by the Legislature
How Money is Spent:
- Allowances for Chairperson and Members (travel, daily expenses)
- Salaries for Commission staff
- Investigation costs
- Research and studies
- Legal funding for women’s cases
Financial Powers: The State Government sets limits on how much the Chairperson and Member-Secretary can approve for different expenses.
Accountability Checks
Annual Audit: The Accountant General audits Commission accounts regularly
Annual Report: The Commission prepares a yearly report detailing:
- All activities undertaken
- Complaints received and resolved
- Recommendations made
- Problems identified
- Impact created
Legislative Oversight: The annual report and audit report are placed before both Houses of the Bihar Legislature. The government must explain what action they took on Commission recommendations.
This means the Commission answers to your elected representatives, creating a chain of accountability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is the Bihar State Commission for Women already functioning?
Answer: The Act was passed in 1999, but it comes into force on a date notified by the State Government. You should check the Bihar Government’s official website or contact the Welfare Department to confirm if the Commission has been formally constituted and is accepting complaints.
Q2: Do I need a lawyer to approach the Commission?
Answer: The Act doesn’t require you to have a lawyer. The Commission’s purpose is to make justice accessible. However, for complex legal matters, having legal guidance can help present your case more effectively.
Q3: Can the Commission punish people who violate women’s rights?
Answer: The Commission cannot directly punish anyone – it’s not a criminal court. However, it can investigate, gather evidence using its Civil Court powers, and then recommend action to appropriate authorities (police, courts, government departments). It can also fund litigation to ensure justice is served.
Q4: Are the Commission members paid for their work?
Answer: No. The Chairperson and non-official members serve voluntarily without salary. They receive only travel allowance and daily allowance when attending Commission work. This ensures members are genuinely committed to the cause rather than treating it as a job.
Q5: What if authorities ignore the Commission’s recommendations?
Answer: The government must explain to the Legislature why they didn’t accept any recommendation. This creates political and public accountability. Additionally, the Commission’s annual reports are public documents, so media and civil society can highlight non-compliance.
Q6: Can men approach the Commission?
Answer: The Act specifically focuses on women’s rights and issues. However, if a man has information about violations of women’s rights or wants to support a woman’s complaint, the Commission can consider such inputs as part of their investigative process.
What This Means for You
The Bihar State Commission for Women represents a significant legal tool for protecting your rights. Unlike many government bodies that only react to crises, this Commission can proactively investigate issues, inspect institutions, and push for systemic changes.
If you’re facing discrimination or violence: You have a statutory body with investigation powers that can intervene on your behalf and push authorities to act.
If you work in women’s welfare: You have an ally with legal authority that can support your advocacy, provide research backing, and recommend policy changes based on ground realities.
For society at large: The Commission serves as a watchdog ensuring that Bihar’s development doesn’t leave women behind and that laws protecting women aren’t just words on paper.
The requirement for diverse representation (SC/ST/Minority/OBC) ensures the Commission understands challenges across all communities. The mandatory inclusion of members with legal, NGO, industry, and social welfare experience means practical, well-rounded decision-making.
Most importantly, the Commission’s power to take suo motu action means it doesn’t wait for women to navigate complicated complaint procedures – it can act when it sees injustice.
Need More Information?
Official Resources
- Full Legal Text: Bihar State Commission for Women Act, 1999
- Relevant Department: Department of Social Welfare, Government of Bihar
- For Implementation Status: Contact Bihar Welfare Department to confirm if Commission is operational
Related Laws
- The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
- The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
- Bihar Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act (if enacted)
Important Contact
- Bihar State Women Development Corporation: The Managing Director serves as Member-Secretary of the Commission
Legal Disclaimer
This article simplifies The Bihar State Commission for Women Act, 1999 for general understanding. It is NOT legal advice. For specific situations:
- Consult a qualified lawyer specializing in women’s rights
- Contact the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Bihar
- Refer to the official legal text of the Act
Information accurate as of: October 18, 2025
