As per the section (14) of the APSCW Act 2002.

The Commission shall, for the purposes of any enquiry under this Act, have the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court, while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, (Central Act 5 of 1908), in respect of the following matters namely:-

(a). Summoning and enforcing the attendance of any witness and the examining him / her on oath.
(b). Requiring the discovery and production of any document.
(c). Receiving evidence on affidavits.
(d). Requisitioning any public records or copy thereof from any public office.
(e). Issuing Commission"s summons for the examinations of witness.
(f). Any proceedings before the Commission shall be deemed to be a judicial proceedings within the meaning of section 193 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), (Central Act 45 of 1960) and the Commission shall be deemed to be a court for the purposes of section 195, of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974).

Functions of the Commission:

According to the section (15) of the APSCW Act 2005:

1. The Commission shall perform all or any of the following functions, namely-
(a). Inquire into any unfair practice, take decision thereon, and to recommended to the government and action to be taken in that matter;
(b). Cause investigations to be made by the Member Secretary on issues of importance concerning women or issues concerning unfair practice and to report thereon to the Government in the corrective measures to be taken.
(c). Summit Annual Report to the Government.
(i). On the defect, inadequacies, or shortcomings in the law enforce which effect the constitutional right to equality and fair treatment of women and also on the remedial legislative measures to be taken to meet the situations.
(ii). On the monitoring of the working laws, enforce, concerning women with a view to identifying the areas where the enforcement of law is not adequately effective or has not been streamlined and recommending executive or legislative measures to be taken in the effective / better standard thereof.
(iii). Of the monitoring of the recruitment made to the State Public Service and State Public Undertakings and promotions within the said services and, scrutinizing the rules and regulations governing such recruitment and promotions, with a view to reporting to the Government for action, if any, required to guarantee equal opportunity to women in the matter of such recruitment and promotions;
(d).
(i) Inspect or cause to be inspected, by the Member Secretary or any officer of the Commission duly authorized by the Commission, on its behalf, prisons, police stations, lockups, sub-jails, rescue homes or other place of custody where women are kept as prisoners or otherwise, or shelter for women or, other similar places run by the government, or any of its agencies including agencies receiving aid form the government for the purpose of offering rescue or shelter for women, or hostels intended for women or girls run by any person and all such other places wherein unfair practices against women is complained of and, cause further inquiries to be made about the treatment that women and girls are subjected to at such places and, to report to the government for taking remedial actions;
(ii).In case where the Commission is of the view that any public servant has been grossly negligent or grossly indifferent in regard to the discharge of his / her duties in relation to the protection of the interest of women, it may be recommended to the concerned disciplinary authority to initiate disciplinary action;
(e). Recommended to government, the welfare measures to be adopted and implemented by the government with a view to ameliorating the condition of women;
(f). Formulate a comprehensive and affirmative / good scheme for securing equal opportunities top women and devise a programme for implementing sub scheme which shall be forwarded to the government for approval and, on obtaining approval thereof with or without modification, implement the same or cause the same to be implemented;
(g). Empower the Member Secretary, to recommended to the appropriate authority to take prosecution proceedings in respects of offences committed against women under any statute providing for penalty for violation of the provisions of such statute;
(h). Maintain a comprehensive Date Bank relating to the social, economic and political conditions of the women including comparative study, updating the same from time to time, making available such data for use in actions for vindication of the rights of women;
(i). Recommend to government to initiate legislation for removal of discrimination in the case of inheritance, guardianship, adoption and divorce or for matters relating to the safeguarding of the dignity of women and the honor of motherhood;
(j). Call for special studies or investigations into specific problems or situations arising out of the discrimination and atrocities against women and identify the constraints so as to recommended strategies for their removal;
(k). Participate and advise on the planning process of social, political and economic development of women;
(l). Fund litigation involving issues affecting a large body of women;
(m). Make periodical reports to the Governments on any matter pertaining to women and in particular, various difficulties under which women toil / suffer;
(n). Undertake promotional and educational research so as to suggest ways to ensuring due representation of women in small spheres, including monitoring of the academic curricula in the state so as to check gender- bias, sex stereotyping, envisaged in the core curricular area of National Policy of Education, 1986 (Revised 1992).
(o). Identify factors responsible for impending the advancement of women, such as lack of access to housing and basic services, particularly for single women and female headed households, and inadequate support services and technologies for reducing drudgery and occupational health hazards, for increasing their productivity;
(p). Hold Family Court to dispose off the cases related to unfair practices against women;
(q). Any other matter which may be referred to it by the Government.
(r). The Government shall lay the recommendations of the Commission under sub- section of section 15, before the Legislative Assembly during its next session and cause action to be taken thereon by the authority concerned within 60 days from the date of approval.