'We the Women' petitions Supreme Court for infrastructure to provide legal help for abused women

By: WE Staff | Monday, 8 November 2021

An NGO called “We the Women of India” has moved to fill major gaps in infrastructure under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act across the country in order to provide competent legal help to women victimised in married homes and to create post-complaint support for them.

Domestic abuse is the most prevalent crime against females in India, according to the unregistered organization's PIL, which was submitted through advocate Shobha Gupta, despite the fact that the law was enacted more than 15 years ago. "As per the National Crime Records Bureau) report for the year 2019, out of 4.05 lakh reported cases categorised under 'crimes against women', over 30% were domestic violence cases," it stated.

The NGO described this distressing statistic as only "the tip of the iceberg," saying that in general, Indian women are afraid of losing their family's reputation, the resulting social shame, and a lack of information of the provisions of law and the remedies given thereunder.

The PIL petitioner, citing the National Family Health Survey, stated, “about 86% of the women victims of domestic violence never seek help, which means only 14% scout for help and a meagre 7% of them reach out to the relevant authorities under the DV Act”.

The NGO appealed to The Supreme court to instruct all authorities, tasked to administer the DV Act in letter and spirit, to designate, enumerate, and shelter homes as stipulated under the statute established to protect women from domestic abuse.

The Domestic Violence Act of 2005, which went into effect in October 2006, established a “network assistance” programme to assist women who have been abused in matrimonial homes in seeking advice, raising grievances, filing complaints, and pursuing their remedies, including proceeding to magistrate's court. The Act also requires governments to provide refuge houses for women who are scared of being abused in marital homes.

The petitioner claimed that most states are woefully inadequate in providing infrastructure assistance to women in need. "Domestic violence is a societal issue and it requires dedicated awareness campaigns through various modes as was done through campaigns like ‘Swacch Bharat’, ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’, injurious effects of tobacco etc,” it stated.

Most state websites, according to the NGO, do not provide protection officers, service providers, or shelter facilities, making it impossible for distraught women to seek help under the DV Act.