An Empirical Study on the Existing Legal Framework Against Domestic Violence in India with Special Reference to Chennai

Abstract

Introduction-Violence against women has become a promine nt topic of discussion in India in recent years. Politicians and media have placed great focus on the issue due to continuously increasing trends of violence against women. Domestic violence (also named as domestic abuse, family violence) is a pattern of behavior. This involves violence or abuse by one person against another in a domestic setting. According to a national family and health survey in 2005, total lifetime prevalence of domestic violence was 33.55 and 8.5% for sexual violence among women aged 15-49. 65% of Indian men believe women should tolerate violence in order to keep the family together, and women sometimes deserve to be beaten. The instance of violence was reported to be lowest among Buddhist and jain women , and highest among Muslim women in India .Domestic violence can take place in number of forms including physical, verbal, emotional, economic, religious aspects. Domestic violence murders including stoning, bride burning, Honor killings and dowry deaths. Globally, the victims of Domestic violence are overwhelmingly women and women tend to experience more severe forms of violence.