Odisha Govt Orders Removal Of Minati Behera As SCW Chairperson After Show Cause

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Monday ordered the removal of Minati Behera as Chairperson of the State Commission for Women citing her unsatisfactory performance.

The state government had earlier issued a show-cause notice and asked her to submit her reply by November 1.

However, after thorough examination of her reply, it was found that her reply was inadequate and fails to justify the unsatisfactory performance of the Commission, the Department of Women & Child Development said in a notification.

“In pursuance of Provision of Sub-section 3 of Section 4 of the Orissa State Commission for Women Act, 1993, the Chairperson of OSCW was issued show cause notice to submit her reply by 4:00PM, 1st November, 2024. After thorough and careful examination of show cause reply submitted by the Chairperson, OSCW, it is observed that the reply is inadequate and does not justify the unsatisfactory performance of the Commission,” the notification read.

“In view of the above facts and circumstances, the State Government hereby orders the removal of Smt. Minati Behera, Chairperson of OSCW appointed vide this Department Notification No. 16810, dated 12.10.2022 in exigency of public interests forthwith invoking the powers conferred under Section 4(3) of the Act,” it said.

It may be noted that Behera was accused of not vacating her chair even after being dismissed by the government. She was also issued a show cause notice on October 28 over ‘unsatisfactory’ performance during her tenure.