Previous Year Question
Consider the following Chairpersons of the National Women Commission:
Jayanti Patnaik
Mamta Sharma
Dr. Girija Vyas
Dr. Poornima Advani
Select the correct chronological order of their appointment from the codes given below:
Codes:
2, 1, 3 and 4
2, 3, 1 and 4
1, 3, 4 and 2
1, 4, 3 and 2
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
The National Commission for Women was constituted under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990, and the Commission came into existence on 31 January 1992. Jayanti Patnaik was the first Chairperson of the first Commission constituted on that date. The tenure of the first Commission was completed on 30 January 1995.
Different Chairpersons subsequently headed the Commission. Official records identify Dr. Poornima Advani as the Chairperson in February 2002. Therefore, she comes after Jayanti Patnaik and before Dr. Girija Vyas in the chronology.
Dr. Girija Vyas subsequently headed the Commission. A 2011 record refers to the conclusion of her tenure of about six years. After an interim arrangement, Mamta Sharma assumed office as Chairperson with effect from 2 August 2011.
Thus, the sequence is:
1. Jayanti Patnaik → 4. Dr. Poornima Advani → 3. Dr. Girija Vyas → 2. Mamta Sharma
An important examination fact is that the National Commission for Women is a statutory body, not a constitutional body, because it was established under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 enacted by Parliament. Its mandate includes reviewing constitutional and legal safeguards available to women and dealing with matters concerning their effective implementation.