Sindh Government has failed to comply with requirements of Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2013 to sensitize and create the awareness about harassment caused to women, Sindh High Court (SHC) ruled in a judgment.
A single bench of SHC led by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar ruled this in petitions pertaining to Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2013 after petitioners including mothers, sisters and wives approached this court against sons, brothers, husband respectively, with regard to harassment caused by them on different grounds and apprehensions of eviction from their residential places.
The order of the bench ruled that the failure of provincial government is related to section 3 of the act that states, "Government shall ensure that this act and the contents thereof receive wide publicity through electronic and print media in Urdu and local languages as well as government officers, police and the members of the judicial service are given periodic sensitization and awareness training on the issues addressed by this Act; and effective protocols are formulated by the concerned ministries and departments dealing with health, education, employment, law and social welfare to address the issue of domestic violence and that the same are periodically revised."
Order stated that campaign shall be launched by all departments by taking steps on emergency basis in every district by using social as well electronic and print Media by including it in public interest Seminars.
Also, district judges shall be taken onboard. The campaign must not only make the people aware about the objective of the act but should also make it known to people that the doors of the courts of magistrate shall always be open to an aggrieved or an informant for immediate rescue / help, as provided by Section 7 of the Act and even no formality to approach concerned police station is needed.
Court directed that MIT SHC to circulate Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2013 to all magistrates, accordingly report shall be submitted quarterly with regard to cases of domestic violence and action taken thereon.
Court observed that since the scope of the Act is much wider and prima facie is aimed to ensure immediate rescue and assistance to an aggrieved therefore, in every single district, committees are required to be formulated hence a mechanism of ambulance/rescue service shall be provided with toll-free number accessible to everyone.
Court stated that composition of the 'Protection Committee' would not be achieved unless special task force is created with special training in that field to deal with women, children and destitute persons, therefore, it is hoped that this aspect shall be considered by the quarter concerned.
Such force shall be provided rescue vehicles having sufficient space with capability to rescue the victim of domestic violence, in every district, order stated and added that it is pertinent to mention that a psychologist including Protection Officers and other posts in each districts shall be filled within three months.