The Supreme Court has expressed displeasure over the pending cases of domestic violence. The apex court has asked the Center to convene a meeting of chief secretaries of all states to look into the problems related to the implementation of the law providing protection to women. The court said that till July 2022, four lakh 71 thousand cases of domestic violence were pending in the country, which is very sad.
Disappointing lack of appointment of officers
Referring to the appointment of Protection Officers under the Domestic Violence Act, the apex court said that their number is dismal.
A bench of Justices SR Bhat and Dipankar Datta noted that having one such officer for a district would be grossly inadequate as each of them would handle around 500-600 cases.
Adequate infrastructure should be closely considered
The bench said this while hearing a plea seeking adequate infrastructure and shelter homes across the country to provide effective legal aid to women abused in matrimonial homes. The bench said that in these circumstances it would be necessary that this aspect should be thoroughly considered across the country.
The top court directed the secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Development to convene a meeting of principal secretaries of all states and union territories to deal with the issue.
Report called on the implementation of “Mission Shakti”
The Prem Court said that the secretaries of the Ministries of Finance, Home and Social Justice and the nominees of the chairpersons of the National Commission for Women and the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) should also participate in the meeting. The court also asked to convene the first meeting within three weeks.
The bench also directed that a status report regarding the implementation of “Mission Shakti”, an integrated women empowerment program, be placed on record.