![]() ![]() The judges should give interim order for maintenance to the victims and also start giving ex-parte divorce. Quote “We should be treating domestic violence cases as a social issue and look at them with empathy. ![]() Also in cases where the husband is repeatedly missing the hearings by giving excuses, an ex-parte divorce should be given to the wife,” says a woman lawyer wishing anonymity. “Interim order is the right of the women under Section 23 of Domestic Violence Act and she can demand maintenance. This is too small a sum for any motivation to be at work,” a protection officer of Bangalore Urban says. Messengers who deliver the notices get a honorarium of Rs 2,000 a month and the computer operators who key in the notices get Rs 5,000. But to find an address in Bangalore is a Herculean task. “Notices have to be served to the respondents on their doorsteps so that they don’t claim they have not received it. In Bengaluru, each protection officer is saddled with at least 1,000 cases and has to ensure that at least six notices are served under Domestic Violence Act on respondents’ doorsteps, sources in the know admit. There are only six protection officers in Bengaluru Urban as against 204 for the entire state. The other major reason for the delay in case hearings is shortage of manpower in judiciary, especially protection officers who are responsible for issuing noticed to the parties. The court should give interim order to provide food, shelter and maintenance to wives till the case gets closed,” argues Saranya. The judges should use their power to stop these adjournments and start giving ex-parte divorces if the husband is not showing up and missing the case hearings. “There are too many adjournments when it comes to domestic violence cases and we want it to stop. While women and activists blame the judiciary for repeated adjournments, a section of advocates blame it on no-show by respondents. The major reason for the delay in domestic abuse cases is adjournment. They have to undergo the torment by living under the same roof with their husbands while fighting the casem,” says Saranya S Hegde, President, Mahila Dakshata Samithi. ![]() Some women are forced to go back to their husbands for the sake of their children and because they are still dependent on their husbands till the case is decided. Cases filed by women against domestic violence get dragged because husbands don’t show up during the hearings. ![]() “At present we are sheltering 30 women and 15 babies at our NGO and most of the women are from either economically deprived sections of the society or the upper echelons. This despite, Section 23 of the Domestic Violence Act 2005 categorically stating that the wife is entitled to the right of getting maintenance. BENGALURU: Women embroiled in domestic violence cases against their husbands are finding themselves in a difficult situation as courts are not granting them interim maintenance till the case gets decided. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |