HYDERABAD: It may be early to say how effective would be the new Domestic Violence Act, 2005.

But enquiries are pouring in from women in distress.

Following implementation of the Act in the State since October last, the Hyderabad Collectorate set up a cell to explain the provisions of new Act to petitioners.

"The response has been good and we get inquiries by post, phone and in person. We have so far sent 15 Domestic Incident Reports (DIRs) to the magistrate," says District Protection Officer Swarnalatha.

Krishna district Protection Officer M. J. Nirmala has sent 30 DIRs to the magistrate. Three to five hearings have already been held.

She said the Act seemed to have instilled some fear among men and they were responding to Protection Officer's call without delay. Some of the cases were resolved at the consultation stage itself with both sides agreeing for a compromise.

But majority of the Protection Officers seem yet to understand the provisions of the new Act, it is said.

Most of the domestic conflicts reported are due to neglect, harassment, physical torture and emotional abuse by men and in-laws or due to property disputes.

The DV Act has come a boon for women as it brought emotional abuse too under its purview, says an advocate Vanaja.

She points out that filing a DIR was a must as women generally take to legal recourse only as a last resort.

The Act limits the role of police as the victim and advocates have to approach a designated woman Protection Officer.

Project directors of District Woman and Child Welfare are designated as Protection Officers.

The complaint is registered as civil suit and the protection officer forwards the DIR to the magistrate.

The magistrate, in turn, has to organise the first hearing within three days and resolve the case within two months.

The police would step in only when the protection order issued by the magistrate is violated by the respondents.

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