Legal Safeguards Against Domestic Violence : A Critical Appraisal

Domestic Violence is a social evil. It is a historical reality that the women in our society have been subjected to discrimination misbehavior and ill-treatment not only outside but also inside their house. The main causes for their plight being illiteracy, economic dependence on man and insensitivity to their rights and their dignity. Despite concept of equality of sex in all respects being a hallmark of our constitution, having been recognized in Articles 14,15,21,39 and 51(A), it is a harsh reality that the women in our country continue to be subjected to what we generally term as Domestic Violence. The phenomenon of Domestic Violence is widely prevalent but has remained largely invisible in the public Domain. According to National Crimes Record Bureau, a total of 4, 45, 256 cases of crime against women were registered during 2022. The majority of cases under crime against women under Indian Penal Code were registered, under cruelty by husband or his relatives (31.4 percent).