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| Suo moto PIL for domestic violence against women | | HC issues various directions to UTs of J&K, Ladakh | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Apr 18: A Division Bench of J&K High Court comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajnesh Oswal took note of the fact that the plight of victims of domestic violence in the Union Territories (UTs) of Jammu and Kashmir as well as Ladakh must be no different as that of similarly placed victims in other jurisdictions.
DB directed administrations of both the UTs for creation of dedicated funding to address issues of violence against women and girls as part of the COVID-19 response by the Union Territories of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh; increased availability of call-in services to facilitate discreet reporting of abuse; increased tele/online legal and counseling service for women and girls; designated informal safe spaces for women, say grocery stores and pharmacies, where they can report domestic violence/abuse without alerting the perpetrators.
DB further directed the Govt to immediate designation of safe spaces (say for instance empty hostels/education institutions etc) as shelters for women who are compelled to leave their domestic situation.
These shelters must be treated as accessible shelters adding that urgent publicity to information regarding all of the above measures as also the availability of the facilities for seeking relief and redressal against the issues of domestic violence and increased awareness campaigns on all aspects of the issues.
DB also issues notices to the Secretary, Department of Social Welfare, Government of Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and Member Secretary, JKSLSA to inform this court to submit a report with regard to the steps taken regarding domestic or any other kind of violence being faced by the women on account of the implementation of the COVID-19 lockdown.
DB directed that a report of the measures in place, steps underway and those contemplated be placed before us before the next date.
It further directed that the Secretaries of the Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authority shall call for list of all cases involving cases of domestic violence which are pending as complaints with the police stations in the Union Territories or in the courts and ascertain the safety and wellbeing of the complainants.
DB also directed that the Secretaries of the Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authorities may seek the assistance of police and para legal volunteers adding that all the courts in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh shall treat cases of domestic abuse as urgent and proceed with the matters in accordance with the circulars issued regarding the procedure to be followed ensuring social distancing. DB appointed Monika Kohli, Advocate as an amicus curiae. JNF |
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