Supreme Court fines states, UTs ₹5k for failure to report Domestic Violence Act compliance

The Supreme Court on Tuesday imposed costs of ₹5,000 on several states and union territories for their failure to comply with directives on the implementation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (DV Act). [We the Women of India v. Union of India & Ors].A Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and PB Varale granted four weeks' time to the defaulting states and UTs to submit compliance affidavits, subject to payment of costs. ."Learned counsel for the respective States have sought for some more time to file status reports. In the circumstances, we grant four weeks' time to file their affidavits subject to payment of costs of ₹5,000 payable to the Supreme Court Mediation Centre. The matter will be listed next on March 25," the Court ordered.The Court had earlier emphasised the need for effective compliance with the DV Act and had set a deadline of February 14 for the affidavits..When the matter was taken up for hearing today, counsel for the petitioner-organisation submitted that 21 states and UTs had filed their compliance reports. Tamil Nadu and Tripura had submitted theirs late on the previous evening. However, the remaining had failed to file their reports within the stipulated time..Justice Nagarathna questioned the non-compliance, stating, "We had given time till February 14. What has happened? We will impose costs. Who are the States who have not filed?".After reviewing the submissions, the Court found that the States of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Telangana, West Bengal and Assam, and the Union Territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Lakshadweep had not submitted their status reports.The Court directed these defaulting states and UTs to submit their compliance affidavits within four weeks, failing which the penalty would be doubled..The Supreme Court has been actively monitoring the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act to ensure that states and UTs fulfill their statutory obligations. The Court has repeatedly stressed the necessity of appointing protection officers as mandated under the law, establishing shelter homes for survivors, and providing adequate legal aid and support services to affected women. Despite these directives, compliance has remained inconsistent, prompting the Court to take stricter measures..The matter will be heard next on March 25 to review compliance..[Read Live Coverage].[Read Order]