Appoint protection officers to curb domestic abuse, states told

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered all states and UTs to identify and designate officers in the Department of Women and Child Development at the district and taluka-levels as protection officers under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.

Appointed under Section 8 of the Act, protection officers are entrusted with the safety and well-being of victims of domestic violence and “shall as far as possible be women”.

A Bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma directed the Chief Secretaries of states, UTs and the Secretaries of the Women and Child/Social Welfare Departments to coordinate and ensure the designation of officers as protection officers under the Domestic Violence Act.

“They shall also take steps to discharge their duties under Section 11 by giving wide publicity through media to promote awareness about the provisions of the Act, ensure effective coordination of services under the Act, and implement its provisions," it said, adding that the exercise had to be completed in six weeks in areas where protection officers were not designated.

The order came on a petition filed by ‘We the Women of India’ seeking directions to fill gaps in infrastructure under the Act across India for providing effective legal aid to women survivors of abuse at matrimonial homes and creating shelter homes for them after lodging of complaints against husbands and in-laws. Domestic violence continued to be the most common crime against women in India despite the Domestic Violence Act coming into force almost two decades ago, the NGO alleged.

“The states shall ensure the availability of service providers, help groups and shelter homes for distressed women. The respondent states shall also identify shelter homes for this purpose," it added.

The Bench ordered the member secretary of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to instruct all member secretaries of state legal services authorities to spread awareness among women about their right to free legal aid and advice under the Domestic Violence Act and give adequate publicity to these provisions as mandated by Section 11 of the Act.

Noting that the Act guaranteed every woman the right to free legal assistance, the Bench said if a woman sought legal aid or advice, it should be provided expeditiously.

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