Supreme Court Directs States & UTs To Designate Protection Officers Under DV Act Within 6 Weeks
The Court ordered the Chief Secretaries of States and Union Territories, along with Secretaries of Women and Child/Social Welfare Departments, to identify and designate officials for this role and to complete the process within six weeks in areas where such appointments have not yet been made;
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed all States and Union Territories to designate officers in the Department of Women and Child Development at the district and taluka levels as 'Protection Officers' under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
The Bench of Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma passed the order while hearing a plea filed by NGO We the Women of India, which sought urgent reforms to address infrastructural and implementation gaps under the Domestic Violence Act.
Protection Officers are tasked with ensuring the safety and welfare of domestic violence survivors.
The Court ordered the Chief Secretaries of States and Union Territories, along with Secretaries of Women and Child/Social Welfare Departments, to identify and designate officials for this role and to complete the process within six weeks in areas where such appointments have not yet been made.
The Court also directed authorities to take necessary steps under Section 11 of the Act, which includes creating public awareness about the legislation, ensuring coordination of services, and effective implementation of its provisions.
In addition, the bench instructed States to ensure the availability of service providers, help groups, and shelter homes for women in distress, including identifying appropriate shelter facilities for victims of domestic abuse.
Invoking the Legal Services Authorities Act, the bench further directed the Member Secretary of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to instruct all State Legal Services Authorities to widely publicise the right to free legal aid for women under the Act and ensure prompt assistance to those who seek help.
The plea, filed through Advocate Shobha Gupta, highlighted the persistent gaps in the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act, even more than 15 years after it came into force.
Cause Title: We the Women of India v. Union of India & Ors.