Dr J N Barowalia & Abhishek Barowalia
Domestic violence, the creation of the society with its roots being very deep in the socio-cultural system, is a form of human rights violations and is an impediment in the development of women folk. Domestic violence, which not only adversely affects the health of a woman but can also cause mental agony, has become a global phenomena and is the most pernicious and insidious form of violence. The womenfolk suffer domestic violence in silence because of the social norms and also because of economic dependence of majority of the women folk on the perpetrators of such violence. In this scenario the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act is one of the important legislations which have been brought up since independence for the protection of the women folk. As per the preamble of the Act, the aim of the Act is to provide for more effective protection of the rights of women guaranteed under the Constitution to those women who are victims of violence of any kind occurring within the family. Under the Act, “Aggrieved person” means any woman who is, or has been, in a domestic relationship with the respondent and who alleges to have been subjected to any act of domestic violence by the respondent; while “domestic relationship” means a relationship between two persons who live or have, at any point of time, lived together in a shared household, when they are related by consanguinity, marriage, or through a relationship in the nature of marriage, adoption or are family members living together as a joint family. Aimed at easy comprehension and interpretation of the enactment an earnest and sincere attempt has been made by the authors with arduous industry, dedication and devotion, to bring out this commentary on the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, in lucid language based on their extensive research and deep study of the law with a view to clear all the doubts regarding the provisions of the Act in simple language. The book will be found immensely useful by Hon’ble Judges, Ld. Advocates, Voluntary organizations, the Citizens of the country and all those who have to deal with this legislation.