Srinagar, Feb 20: The state cabinet has asked the Law ministry to tune the proposed legislation on domestic violence against women in accordance with the Muslim Personal Law.
 “The government had recently taken the bill to the cabinet for approval ahead of tabling it in the Legislative Assembly. However, the cabinet objected to certain proposition of the bill and after a threadbare discussion sought modification,” sources told Greater Kashmir on Saturday.
 “One of the points which came under discussion was whether a woman could continue to live in her former husband’s house after divorce. The cabinet asked the Law ministry, which is working in consultation with the Social Welfare ministry, to tune the legislation adopted from the center in accordance with the Muslim Personal Law,” sources said.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir a senior minister said the bill was okayed by the cabinet in its last meeting. However, without giving details, he added that bill would be modified. “Though there is a well-defined legislation on domestic violence against women at the center, the state would have its own Act once the Legislative Assembly passes the bill,” he said. Officials said rise in domestic violence against women in the recent past had necessitated a law to protect rights of the women.
 “The government will introduce the bill in the upcoming session. We are hopeful that it will get maximum support so that a stringent law can be enforced to protect women against domestic violence,” said minister for Social Welfare Sakina Ittoo. “We are mulling a unique law.”
 “Separate protection officers will be given powers to settle the cases ranging from harassment by in-laws to matrimonial disputes on spot,” Ittoo said.
 Officials said Jammu and Kashmir had witnessed a steep rise in the cases of domestic violence and even in some instances mysterious death of women was attributed to demand for dowry or harassment of women by in-laws.
 They said more than 2000 cases of domestic violence were pending with the State Women Commission (SWC) constituted to protect the rights of women. 
Secretary SWC, Hafeeza Muzaffar, said the Commission had solved more than 600 cases  of domestic violence till date. But she asserted that a strict law was needed to protect the women. “The law will strengthen hands of authorities,” she said.
 Muzaffar said though the Commission was doing its bit to address the problem. “Once the law comes into the force the accused will be accountable for any wrong doing and it will definitely help the Commission,” she added.
 The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, which was introduced in India in 2005, came into force on October 26, 2006.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST