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| Will pervasive social evil end finally? | | Kiran Bedi supports new domestic violence law | | B L KAK
NEW DELHI, NOV. 2: Reputed police officer and Magsaysay Award winner, Kiran Bedi, has come out in the open to support the new domestic violence law. The new law that makes domestic violence including verbal abuse punishable has raised hopes that the pervasive social evil can now be effectively combated.
In an e-mail interview, reputed police officer and Magsaysay Award winne Kiran Bedi said that it would enable the law-enforcing agencies to provide relief to the victims. The police have been helpless in these matters because there were no legal provisions till now.
Will the new law help provide gender justice? Kiran Bedi's answer: "Yes it would be of great support to women seeking redress from domestic violence but who are turned away by law-enforcing agencies for want of legal provisions. Now they will not have an excuse to turn such a woman away". Is the phenomenon of domestic violence against women so acute that it needs a special law to deal with it? Pat came her reply: "Yes the problem is very acute. It is within the precincts and not visible but known. And it is across all sections of society".
Are there similar laws in other countries? Or is India a pioneer? Kiran Bedi had this to say: "No, no. Even Mauritius had a good law at least ten years ago. Besides other developed countries. India took a long time". As a senior police officer, what has been her experience in implementing the anti-dowry provisions like Section 498 of Indian Penal Code? Her reply: "Not very encouraging. For it gets stuck in legal trials and fights. This one is all summary disposals. And will be expeditious".
Is there is a possibility of the new law being misused? Kiran Bedi said: "It cannot be ruled out. But the magistrate is not bound by any complaint. A false complaint does not mean guaranteed punishment. The Protection Officer can do home visits, make inquiries, and the court can also refer for counselling". Are laws sufficient to deal with social evils like domestic violence against women, or is there need for a different kind of approach?
Kiran Bedi's reply ran thus: "Well, while you need a better society there has be the legal support as well. Domestic violence against women cuts across social and economic classes, and educational levels of men do not seem to act as a check".
Is there need for greater presence of women in the police force to implement gender sensitive laws? "Yes, indeed. It will bring in a variety in perceptions, which is missing today", Kiran Bedi said.
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