Crime against Women Cell, mostly referred to as CAW Cell, is also known as Mahila Thana or Parivar Pramarsh Kender in various states in India, though I will use CAW Cell for the sake of consistency. The primary job of these Cells is to bring about reconciliation between the warring couple.

Delhi (CAW Cell) Crime Against Women Cell was established in 1983, under section 19 of the Delhi Police Act.

In order to deal with the incidents of different forms of abuse and violence with the females, there is a special wing that specifically entertains complaints with regards to the violent incidents targeted towards women

Procedure adopted by the CAW cell after receiving a complaint :

  1. After receiving a complaint from women, CAW cell examines the alleged offences, provide the assistance in reconciliation and prevents the miscarriage of justice, instead of straightaway registering the FIRs on complaints lodged by women.
  2. The first step in the CAW cell process is the counseling of the wife on the day when she visits the cell with her complaint. The Police Authorities tell her rights and limitations, and the rights and limitations of the husband, and the path that will be followed during the whole process. The wife gives her complaint in writing to the department at this point of time. The complaint is referred to the legal cell of the CAW cell. The legal cell goes through the complaint and makes its recommendations. Generally the complaint will be proceeded upon by the CAW cell.
  3. After the recommendations of legal cell, the complaint is forwarded again to the DCP who is in-charge of the CAW cell and an enquiry officer is appointed by the department.
  4. The enquiry officer will send the summons to the parties for appearance on the date and time mentioned in the summons.
  5. Crime Against Women Cell (CAW Cell) tries to make good sense prevail on all concerned and try and get the dispute and difference of all sorts patched up amongst the woman and her in-laws. A written amicably arrived at Settlement is also written and signed by the woman and her in-laws. Things end on a good note in this event of scenario. 
  6. Crime Against Women Cell (CAW Cell) sends a failure report to its concerned superiors, if the things are not amicably resolved amongst the woman and her in-laws. Besides, the CAW Cell forwards the Complaint of the woman to the concerned Police Station for registration of a regular FIR. With this recommendation for registration of the FIR in the matter, the role of the CAW Cell comes to an end.