Paridhi Arya
Published on: April 7, 2022 at 15:26 IST
The Public Interest Litigation was filed by the Non-Governmental Organization ‘We the Women of India’ requesting the Supreme Court to take the steps in the matter that Protection to a women granted under Domestic Violence Act is not provided as there is Shortage of Protection Officers.
The Advocate Shobha Gupta, also Objected that the state is asking Revenue Officers to perform the Duty of Protection Officers.
Even the proper information related to Compensation, Protection and of other reliefs they can claim is not properly available with them.
The Supreme Court Bench has also made a remark in the matter regarding the efficiency Domestic Violence Act in terms of a smaller number of Protection Officers and inadequate number of Shelter Homes.
“Allow us to give you (Centre) unsolicited advice. Whenever you come up with a Legislation that creates rights, you must also make arrangements for the Funds and have Financial impact in your mind. Right to Education (Act) is a classic example. The Act was made, but where are the schools? Where do the states get the teachers? There are not enough schools or teachers,” Justices S Ravindra Bhat and PS Narasimha, said to Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati.
In the reply Advocate Bhati stated that Government has took major steps in these 17 years to enable smooth functioning of the said Act.
Another Objection by the Petitioner was that Government has not provided the information about the Funds available for making separate Cadre of Protection Officers.
The Bench asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati “First, you have to get the data on Reporting of Violence and complaints under the Act. Then, you need to develop statistics on how many Officers are required, and then evolve a model after making an Assessment of the funding required to sustain the Cadre of such officers,”
The Bench headed by Justice U.U Lalit gave the time of two weeks to Additional Solicitor General to come back in the Court with all the information.