New law against violent hubbies

New Delhi: The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 will come into effect from Thursday providing protection to the wife or female live-in partner from violence at the hands of the husband or male live-in partner or his relatives.

The Act was passed by Parliament in August last year and approved by the President on September 13, 2005 following which the Ministry of Women and Child Development issued a notification bringing it into force from October 26.

The time gap was due to the need for detailed consultation required with the state and other agencies for framing the rules under the law, which also extends protection to sisters, widows or mothers.

Domestic violence under the Act includes actual abuse or the threat of abuse whether 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.

The Ministry had simultaneously issued another notification laying down the rules framed for the implementation of the Act.

These rules provide for, among other things, appointment of protection officers, service providers and counsellors.

Action to be taken in the event of the respondent breaching the protection

order passed by the Magistrate in favour of the aggrieved woman is

also prescribed in these rules.

Both the notifications will become available on the Ministry's website www.wcd.nic.in from 26th October.

Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury said the bill will go a long way in providing relief to women from domestic violence and get their due.

The Ministry has requested all the state governments and union territories to ensure that the necessary administrative arrangements are immediately put

in place for the commencement of the Act, she added.

The bill 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 a relationship in the nature of marriage, or adoption.

In addition, relationships with family members living together as a joint family are also included.

Even sisters, widows, mothers, single women or women living with the abuser are entitled to get legal protection under the proposed bill.