NEW DELHI, June 23 (UNI) The government today decided to enact a comprehensive law for protecting women against domestic violence of any kind - physical, sexual, verbal, emotionl or economic, including dowry demands.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister Pranabh Mukherjee told reporters.
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Bill, 2005, cleared by the Cabinet for the purpose, would be introduced in Parliament soon to fill the void in the existing legal framework, he said.
The proposed Bill has five salient features.
It seeks to cover those women who are or have been in a relationship with the abuser where both parties have lived together in a shared household and are related by consanguinity, marriage or adoption.
In addition, relationship with family members living together as a joint family are also included.
Even those women who are sisters, widows, mothers, single women, or living with the abuser are entitled to legal protection under the proposed legislation.
It defines "domestic violence" to include actual abuse or the threat of abuse that is physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or economic.
Harassment by way of unlawful dowry demands to the woman or her relatives would also be covered under this definition.
It seeks to protect the rights of women to secure housing.
It also provides for the right of a woman to reside in her matrimonial home or shared household, whether or not she has any title or rights in such home or household.
This right is secured by a residence order, which is passed by the Magistrate.
It empowers the Magistrate to pass protection order in favour of the abused to prevent the abuser from aiding or committing an act of domestic violence or any other specified act, entering a workplace or any other place frequented by the abused, attempting to communicate with the abused, isolating any assets used by both the parties and causing violence to the abused, her relatives or others who provide her assistance from the domestic violence.
It provides for appointment of Protection Officers and registration of non-governmental organisations as service providers for providing assistance to the abused with respect to her medical eamination, obtaining legal aid and safe shelter.
