Allahabad HC Seeks Status Report On Steps Taken By UP Govt To Prevent Rising Number Of Domestic Violence Cases During Lockdown [Read Order]

The direction was passed by a division bench comprised by Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Yashwant Varma in a PIL filed by NGO Ala Hazrat Helping Society.

The Petitioner-organization, through Advocate Pradeep Kumar Sharma, had submitted before the court that there has been a spike in the reported number of domestic violence cases, during the lockdown period. It had thus approached the High Court, seeking a direction upon the state government, through the Women & Child Welfare Development, to appoint a nodal officer for monitoring the grievances of the victims of domestic violence and for taking necessary measures in that regard.

The court has directed the Additional Advocate General Manish Goyal, appearing for the state, to,

"obtain status report to the steps taken by the State Government with regard to attending the grievances of all victims of the domestic violence during COVID-19 Pandemic."

The matter is now posted in the last week of July 2020 for admission/final disposal.

In April this year, Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres had called for all the governments across the globe to make prevention and redress of violence against women a key part of their national response plans for COVID-19. He had pointed out that problems of women got exacerbated during the lockdown as many of them were trapped at home with their abusers, struggling to reach out to services and are suffering from cuts and restrictions.

Thereafter, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had taken suo moto cognizance of plight of victims in domestic violence cases amidst lockdown and issued notices to the concerned authorities to submit an action taken report.

The Karnataka Government had also informed the High Court in April, that during the lockdown period from March 24, Santhwana centres received 315 calls relating to domestic violence.

The Delhi High Court was also cognizant of the issue and had directed the Central Government, Delhi Government, National Commission for Women, Delhi Commission for Women, and other concerned authorities to convene a meeting at the highest level to look into the issue of protection of women from domestic violence during the lockdown period.

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