Domestic Violence Act and Laws

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT AND LAWS P. SUNITHA, Research Scholar, S. V. University, Tirupati. Prof. D. USHA RANI, Director, Canter for Extension Studies, S. V. University. , Tirupati. The domestic violence against women can be viewed in different forms, which will include Physical, verbal, economic, sexual, emotional abuse and the threats to commit the same. Bride tortured to death for dowry issues, a women abandoned by her husband for no reasons, such kind of news always appears in the papers. This issue is very grave and requires much importance than just one or two lines in the news papers. To understand the depth of this issue we need to look at the statistics of this crime. Statistics should be collected to show that violence against women actually exists and we as users should try to use these statistics to lay foundation for our argument as to the extent to which violence against women exist. According to statistics published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in 2002 a total of 147, 678 crimes against women were reported in 2002 compared with 143, 795 during 2001. This represents an increase of 2.7 % over the previous year and Shows an increase of 12.3 % over 1998. These NCRB figures record crimes specifically categorized as Crimes against Women, although women may additionally be the victims of other crimes, robbery, murder etc. The proportion of IPC Crimes committed against women towards total IPC crimes increased continually during past years. . The news is being published and that is it. After that it is never highlighted that what has happened to the case there after, because the men use their influence and get liberated always. It is very rare when a culprit of domestic violence gets punished for his crime. If we would leave the major issues like dowry death, and focus on the torture and harassment the tool will be increased much more. While physical injuries can be seen simply because they are visible and could be produced before people, mental and psychological injuries are not visible, though they cause equal or even greater damage. According to United Nation Population Fund Report, around two-third of married Indian women are victims of domestic violence and as many as 70 per cent of married women in India. Thus it is quite obvious that this crime is increasing in its magnitude day by day and influencing more and more destitute women and girls. It is very binding and obligatory at this point of time to creating public awareness, advocacy for better policy and legal framework and the need for necessary support services to end violence against Women and Girl and uncover this unseen pain.