SC Fines Assam, Other NE States for Failing to Submit Domestic Violence Act Status Reports

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday, February 18, pulled up several states and union territories for failing to submit status reports on the implementation of the 2005 Domestic Violence (DV) Act and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each on them.

The Supreme Court granted a four-week extension for submission, contingent upon payment of the Rs 5,000 penalty to the defaulter states. The case will be heard next on March 25.

They were Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Telangana, West Bengal, and Assam. The apex court was informed that the Union Territories (UTs) of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Lakshadweep also did not file the status reports.

“If you don’t file it, next time it will double,” said Justice B. V. Nagarathna, leading the bench of the SC, and he posted the matter for further hearing on March 25. The court was hearing a plea seeking directions to the concerned authorities for proper enforcement and implementation of the provisions of the 2005 DV Act.

The court had previously ordered status reports on December 2, 2024, with an initial deadline of February 14. During earlier hearings, the bench emphasized that both central and state governments share responsibility for implementing the domestic violence law effectively.

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