Retired magistrates should try domestic violence cases: Renuka

Hyderabad, Nov 21 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury today said the Centre was considering various measures, including a notification seeking services of retired magistrates to deal exclusively with cases of domestic violence against women, and ensure speedy justice to them.

The government was aware that regular courts were saddled with a large number of cases. So, a Central notification was being thought of to appoint retired Tahsildars as Judicial Officers to speedily try cases of domestic violence, she said in her keynote address at a seminar on the landmark legislation.

''We need more men to fight our cause. We want to instill in minds of youths that one cannot beat women and go scot free,'' she said.

The act was brought in with the sole intention of creating a congenial environment in society and ensuring safety of women, both married and unmarried, at the home.

Making it clear that police had not been removed from the picture, she said, ''We have expanded the net to ensure the protection of women from physical, sexual, economic and emotional abuse by their spouses, partners or other males in the family.'' ''Let me make it clear the police cannot abdicate their responsibility. The act is only to supplement IPC provisions and protect distressed women. An important feature is woman's right to secure housing. She can reside in the matrimonial or shared household, whether or not she had any title in the household,'' Ms Chowdhury said.

State Women and Child Welfare Minister N Rajyalakshmi said while inaugurating the seminar that about 60 per cent of women were subjected to violence of various forms in the country compared to 20 per cent in New Zealand, 23 per cent in Canada, 25 per cent each in England and Russia, 28 per cent in the US and 59 per cent in Japan.

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