A Brief Overview of The Domestic Violence Act

Domestic violence or domestic abuse in simple words means violence that takes place between inmates living together. It is also known as domestic abuse or spousal abuse. It not only takes place in relationship called marriage but also in dating, live-in, family, friends and cohabitation. This kind of violence emerges from the issues related to personality disorders, low level of self esteem, lack of assertiveness, intolerable stress, dependency and many more. Some of the most common methods by which a large percentage of Indian women get abused are as follow:

• When they are forced to perform any sexual activity which they do not find comfortable or they have disliking for.
• When they are attacked with some metallic object like knife, gun or any other domestic equipment.
• When they are forcibly choked.
• When they face slapping.

As far as the most common method of domestic violence against women is concerned, the slapping is above them all. As per the studies done by social engineers, the cycle of domestic violence gets repeated from generation to generation. The women who have seen their mothers being beaten by their fathers are more likely to face domestic violence.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 came into existence on 26 October, 2006. The Act was passed by the Parliament in August 2005. Over 8,000 cases were registered under this Act across the country. The passing of this Act was a historical marker in the direction of women empowerment in India. It was enacted specifically for the protection of women. Not that there was no rule like that, but in the cases of domestic violence prior to this Act but police did not use to take proper action in such type of cases and refer them to the family counselling.

This Law provided protection to those females who were continuously facing violence from their husbands and other members in the family. This law provided protection to women in other relationship verticals also such as sisters, mothers and widows.

In a social fabric like India where an unprecedented growth on all fronts is an undeniable truth, we are in a complete failure to eliminate violence against women from our society. The truth is not that much which gets visible through the complaints in police stations, but it goes far more ahead. It is a bitter truth that more than 80% women, even today, can’t raise their voice against the males of their family. This problem can never be wiped out only by making and enforcing a law. It can be wiped out only when this male-dominated society will start accepting the fact that women are also human beings and they have also the same right to live peacefully as men have.