Domestic Violence

Giving men common antidepressant could help tackle domestic violence: Study

The medication's effectiveness depended on participants actually taking it and staying engaged long enough for it to work

Suicides by housewives high in states where domestic violence is normalised

Societal acceptance of abuse, rather than its actual frequency, may shape how women respond to distress

Greater Noida dowry death: Inflammable liquid, new videos open fresh angles

The investigation into the suspected dowry death of Nikki Bhati has taken a new turn after the recovery of an inflammable substance from her room and the emergence of fresh video clips, prompting police to revisit the timeline of the August 21 incident, a senior officer said on Wednesday. The officer, who is part of the probe, said the inflammable solution found in Nikki's room has been sent for forensic analysis. Police are also collating and examining multiple short video clips, which are surfacing in the public domain in connection with the August 21 incident. The new findings seem to mark a shift from earlier allegations that Nikki (26) was set on fire with a flammable liquid by her husband Vipin Bhati and his family. Police will also re-examine the statement of Nikki's sister Kanchan, who shot a video of the alleged incident, lodged the FIR and claimed to have tried to intervene in the matter. Kanchan is married to Nikki's brother-in-law, Rohit Bhati. Vipin, Rohit, Nikki's ..

DV law doesn't distinguish 1st marriage from 2nd on maintenance: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has held that the domestic violence law doesn't distinguish first marriage from the second when it comes to paying maintenance to an estranged spouse. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on July 15 said once a man voluntarily marries his partner and accepts her and her children from the previous marriage, he cannot use it as a defence later to resist his statutory obligations. A man moved court against paying maintenance to his estranged wife saying it was his second marriage and the children were from her first marriage. "As regards the petitioner's (man) submission that the respondent's (wife) marriage with him was her second and that she had children from a previous marriage, such a submission is wholly misconceived," the order said. The order continued, "Domestic Violence Act does not distinguish between a first or subsequent marriage for the purpose of entitlement to maintenance. Once the petitioner voluntarily entered into the marriage and accepted the responden

Mumbai court raises domestic violence compensation from ₹5 lakh to ₹1 crore

The court observed that the woman's husband and his family are 'crorepatis', or multi-millionaires, and considered the initial compensation amount to be insufficient

Domestic violence, assault most reported crimes so far in 2025: NCW

The National Commission for Women (NCW) received 7,698 complaints this year, with domestic violence, assault, and criminal intimidation the most common grievances across India. Domestic violence topped the chart with a total of 1,594 complaints filed since the beginning of the year. The total comprised 367 cases in January, 390 in February, 513 in March, 322 in April, and two in May. The category alone accounted for nearly 20 per cent of all complaints, according to official data. Closely following were complaints of criminal intimidation, which saw 989 cases over the three months 268 in January, 260 in February, 288 in March, 170 in April, and three in May. Assault was the third most commonly reported issue, with 950 complaints 249 in January, 239 in February, and 278 in March, 183 in April and one in May. Other significant categories included dowry harassment with 916 complaints, rape and attempt to rape with 394, and molestation or outraging the modesty of women, with 310 ...

No mangalsutra, bindi? Judge asks woman why husband would be interested

While mediating a domestic violence case, a Pune judge asked a woman why her husband would be interested in her if she wasn't wearing a mangalsutra and sindoor

Domestic violence survivors may soon get 10-day stay at govt-run centres

The Centre is planning to double the duration for which domestic violence survivors can seek temporary shelter at One-Stop Centres from five to 10 days, Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi said. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event on Wednesday night, Devi said under special circumstances the survivors can stay in such centres for up to 15 days. One Stop Centres (OSC) are intended to support women affected by violence, in private and public spaces, within the family, community and at the workplace. According to the present legislation, women affected by violence along with their children (girls of all ages and boys up to 8 years of age) can avail themselves of a temporary shelter at the OSC for a maximum period of 5 days. Devi said the Women and Child Development Ministry is planning to increase the number of days for which domestic violence survivors can seek temporary shelter at one stop centres from five to 10 days and the government is finalising .

Bihar to appoint 140 officers for women affected by domestic violence

The Bihar government has decided to appoint 140 full-time 'protection officers' across the state to support women affected by domestic violence more effectively. The Social Welfare Department has decided to create a separate cadre under which sub-division, district and state-level protection officers will be appointed. The decision has been taken in view of the rising number of domestic violence cases in the state. Speaking to PTI, Harjot Kaur Bamhrah, additional chief secretary of the Social Welfare Department and chairman cum MD of Bihar Women and Child Development Corporation, said, "The department has decided to appoint full-time POs to effectively deal with cases of domestic violence." "The process will start soon. A separate cadre will be created for the purpose... More than 140 POs will be appointed across the state. Of them, 101 will be appointed at the sub-division level and 38 at the district level. A state-level PO will also be appointed," she added. The decision has be

Techie suicide case: Bengaluru police summons Atul Subhash's wife

As part of its probe into the suicide of engineer Atul Subhash, the Bengaluru City Police on Friday issued a summons to his wife Nikita Singhania and asked her to appear before it within three days. The 34-year-old techie ended his life on Monday in Bengaluru, alleging harassment at the hands of his estranged wife and her family. A four-member Bengaluru City Police team led by sub-inspector Sanjeet Kumar arrived at Singhania's residence in the Khowa Mandi area in this Uttar Pradesh district around 11 am and pasted the notice for her summons. According to Circle Officer (City) Ayush Srivastava, the Bengaluru City Police notice said, "Nikita Singhania to appear before the investigating officer at Marathahalli police station, Bengaluru, within three days for interrogation regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of her husband, Atul Subhash." The notice, addressed solely to Singhania, did not mention other accused family members, including her mother Nisha Singhania, uncle ..

Govt's NRI cell got over 400 complaints of domestic violence, dowry in 2022

The government's NRI cell received over 400 complaints from women in 2022, with key issues ranging from domestic violence, confiscation of passports, desertion to dowry demands and child custody disputes. According to the latest annual report from the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) accessed by PTI, 109 complaints were registered between January and March 2022, while 372 were received from April to December. The report highlighted that the NRI cell, which handles cases related to NRI marriages from women both in India and abroad, saw several serious allegations, including confiscation of passports by in-laws, and women being unable to join their husbands abroad due to the husband's disappearance or unknown whereabouts. "The complexity of NRI marriages often involves significant challenges, including legal and financial aid, child custody issues, and the location of missing spouses," the report stated, urging collaboration across government departments to resolve these

Domestic Violence Act is applicable to every woman: Supreme Court

Irrespective of religious affiliation and/ or social background, the Domestic Violence Act is applicable to every woman to protect then from domestic abuse reiterates the Supreme Court of India

Section 498A, Domestic Violence laws among most abused in India: SC

Section 498A of the IPC and the Domestic Violence Act have often faced criticism for being allegedly misused by women to falsely implicate their husbands and in-laws

Advisory firm against Gautam Singhania's reappointment to Raymond's board

A proxy advisory firm has recommended the shareholders of the leading textile and fabric manufacturer Raymond to vote against the reappointment of Chairman & Managing Director Gautam Singhania on the board of the company. It has called for an independent investigation into the accusations of domestic violence and misappropriation of funds raised by his estranged wife Nawaz Modi by the board of the company. Moreover, it has also called for Gautam Singhania and Nawaz Modi to step off the board of Raymond until divorce-related issues are settled and the results of an independent investigation are received. Besides, the proxy advisory firm IIAS has also recommended Raymond shareholders to vote against the proposed remuneration structure for Singhania claiming that it allows him to be paid in excess of regulatory thresholds. An e-mail sent to Raymond remained unanswered by the time of filing of the story. Raymond is conducting its Annual General Meeting on June 27, in which it has ...

Enough is enough: Australia unites against gender violence, demands action

Protests have swept across Australia in response to a surge in recent instances of violence against women, with demonstrators advocating for the declaration of gender-based violence as a national emer

Australian PM describes domestic violence as a 'national crisis'

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday described domestic violence as a national crisis after thousands rallied around the country against violence toward women. Thousands protested in cities around Australia on Sunday to draw attention to the deaths of 27 women so far this year allegedly caused by acts of gender-based violence in a population of 27 million. Albanese said on Monday the rallies were a call to action for all levels of Australian government to do more to prevent gender-based violence. "Quite clearly, we need to do more. It's not enough to just have empathy, Albanese told Nine Network television. "The fact that... a woman dies every four days on average at the hand of a partner is just a national crisis, he added. There were 17 rallies held across Australia over the weekend, with an estimated 15,000 people demonstrating in the city of Melbourne. Albanese said he will host a meeting or Australian state and territory leaders on Wednesday to discuss a ...

UN points to yawning gap of inequality in sexual, reproductive health

A new study says an African woman is roughly 130 times more likely to die from pregnancy and childbirth complications than a woman in Europe or North America, the UN population fund reported Wednesday as it decried widening inequality in sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide. UNFPA's latest State of World Population report also estimates that nearly 500 maternal deaths occur in countries with humanitarian crises or conflicts, and shows that women of African descent in the Americas are more likely to die giving birth than white women. Sweeping global gains in sexual and reproductive health and rights over the last thirty years are marred by an ugly truth millions of women and girls have not benefited because of who they are or where they were born, the fund said in a statement. UNFPA executive director Dr Natalia Kanem said the unintended pregnancy rate has declined by nearly one-fifth since 1990 and the maternal death rate has dropped by more than one-third since ..

Urban Company launches policy to support service partners facing abuse

The company said it would also release a series of videos to raise awareness about domestic violence and abuse, and how its service professionals can report it

Domestic violence cases drop after rise during pandemic years: NCW chief

The number of complaints of domestic violence recorded by the National Commission for Women that increased during the Covid years has witnessed a decline, according to the apex body's Chairperson Rekha Sharma. Responding to a question during a media briefing, Sharma said domestic violence cases increased during the Covid period and claimed that the trend was seen across the world. "In domestic violence, in the two years when it was closed down, it (domestic violence cases) increased but now it has come down. During the Covid period, domestic violence had increased and it was a worldwide trend," she said. According to National Commission for Women (NCW) data, in 2020 -- when the lockdown was imposed -- 5,304 complaints of domestic violence were recorded out of a total 23,722. In 2019, the commission recorded 2,960 complaints of domestic violence out of 19,730. The number of domestic violence complaints was 6,633 out of the total 30,864 cases recorded in 2021. Of the total 30,957 .

Female govt employees may now nominate child for pension before husband

The female employee will be eligible to nominate their children to receive family pension before the spouse if there is a pending divorce, domestic violence or dowry case in any court