Question : PROTECTION OF WOMEN FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT

(a) the aims and objectives of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005;

(b) whether the said Act has succeeded in fulfilling its targets and objectives, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the said Act is in force in all the States/ UTs across the country, if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including Rajasthan along with the details of the States/UTs that have not implemented the said Act;

(d) whether the Government has any proposal to amend the said Act, if so, the details thereof;

(e) the number of cases registered for violation of the said Act, State/UT-wise during each of the last three years and the current year and the action taken by the Government thereon; and

(f) the measures adopted/mechanism devised by the Government to ensure effective and proper implemention of the said Act in the country?

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

(a): The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 (PWDVA) which came into effect in October 2006 aims to provide protection and support to victims of domestic violence. The Act defines domestic violence to include all acts of omission and commission that causes injury to a woman’s physical, sexual or mental health and includes specific forms of violence such as physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and economic abuse. It seeks to provide relief to women in the form of protection orders, residence orders, monetary relief, custody order and compensation orders. Breach of any protection order is a criminal offence under the Act.

(b): As per the provisional data of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total number of 13797, 16351 and 4204 cases have been registered under the Protection of Women Against Domestic Violence Act, 2005 in the year 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively. The number of cases filed under the Act clearly shows that women are using the law to get reliefs from domestic violence.

(c): The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 (PWDVA) extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

(d): No Madam.

(e) & (f):As per the provisional data of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the details of number of cases registered under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PDWVA), 2005, State/UT-wise during each of the last three years and the current year is at Annexe-I.

All the State Governments/UT Administrations are responsible for implementation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA), 2005. The Central Government has been emphasising upon the need to impart training to First Class Judicial Magistrates/ Metropolitan Magistrates to deal with cases under Domestic violence Act through National/ State Judicial Academies. The Ministry of Women and Child Development conducted a National Consultation in January, 2012 to review implementation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and to discuss the difficulties faced by State/UTs Government in implementation of the Act. It was inter-alia recommended that the State Government may organize regular trainings and meetings of all agencies in order to strengthen their capacities and facilitate interagency coordination. The States may also organise sensitization and training workshop for the Judiciary to sensitize about the requirement of police assistance at the time of enforcement.