The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Women urged to be aware of Domestic Violence Act

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Women urged to be aware of Domestic Violence Act

Staff Reporter

Chennai : Madras School of Social Work conducted a workshop on the Domestic Violence Act to promote awareness of the law among police personnel, representatives of non-governmental organisations and students.

At the inauguration on Friday, Justice S. Mohan, former Supreme Court Judge, termed the Act a landmark law to bring civil remedies to women who faced physical, sexual, verbal and economic violence at home.

S. Vimala, District Judge and Director of Tamil Nadu State Judicial Academy, urged women to be aware of the protection that the Act offered them. The Act offered them shelter, right to custody of children and support to fight violence.

The procedure to seek help under the Act was fairly simple, Ms. Vimala said. A victim could fill up a standard form and submit it to a Magistrate. She would be given legal help free of cost if she could not afford it. A protection officer would assist the victim. Women in live-in relationships were also covered by the Act.

R. Uma, Assistant Public Prosecutor, and V. Sithannan, Chennai Corporation Vigilance Officer, conducted an interactive discussion on the subject.

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