Challenges for the Implementation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 in Arunachal Pradesh

Abstract

The paper examines the challenges for implementing the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, (PWDVA) 2005 in Arunachal Pradesh, India. This specific Act is completely victim-oriented and provides instant relief from all kinds of abuse within domestic setting. It guarantees to safeguard an aggrieved person whether wife or female-live-in partner from abuse by husband, malelive-in partner, or any biological relatives. The Act has been established considering international commitments and human rights enshrined in the Articles of the Indian Constitution. This Act is a civil law, whose advantage is that it complements existing criminal laws. The objective of this Act is to provide immediate support to women exposed to domestic violence and to empower  them. There are provisions of various rights and assistance under the Act. The present study will analyse some of these, such as  assistance of protection officers, residence relief, and monetary relief. Nonetheless, there is an assumption regarding the  existence of a gap between implementation of the Act and its practice in the state. Hence, the study attempts to examine secondary data to find out challenges for the implementation of PWDVA, 2005 in the state.