Missing Case Of Women With Disability And Domestic Violence

Ms Shruti Dahiya, Research Scholar, Department of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh

ABSTRACT

Domestic violence or Intimate Partner Violence is a phenomenon known to everyone but accepted by a few. Since time immemorial, women have been subjected to various kinds of abuses ranging from physical, sexual, psychological and economical but it’s only in late nineties that it has been recognised worldwide as an offence against marriage and a criminal act done by someone having fiduciary relationship. It came as a bolt to social institution of marriage in India due to its nature of being considered as a sacrament or holy union dictated in the holy texts. Though the International conventions and legislations have tried to curb the menace of harm or abuse to women in her household or shared space but it has not done sufficient to address the needs of People with disabilities. In India, the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, 2005 was introduced to provide safeguard to the rights of women who are victim of abuse by laying down detailed procedure of complaints, protection orders, and compensation orders etc. but to author’s surprise it nowhere specifically mentions anything concerning specially abled women. It’s not something that can be addressed generally because due to their disabilities such women are more vulnerable and prone to violence. With this paper, the researcher would like to reflect upon missing case of Women with disabilities in PDVA, 2005.