Delhi third in domestic violence cases: Study

NEW DELHI: Delhi recorded the highest number of domestic violence cases during the nearly two-months-long lockdown period, lagging behind only Uttarakhand and Haryana.
In a first of its kind effort to document who needed legal aid during the lockdown, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has documented cases till May 15 under various categories, including domestic violence, in which Delhi saw 63 cases where distraught women reached out to counsellors seeking immediate help.
NALSA, that reports to its executive chairman, Supreme Court Justice N V Ramana, compiled the paper after collecting data from 28 different State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs). On domestic violence, the report shows only Uttarakhand (144) and Haryana (79) are the two full fledged states that witnessed more cases of domestic violence than the capital during lockdown.
Detailing the break up of legal help extended, the report says NALSA units reached out to tenants facing eviction, migrants, labourers denied wages and prisoners.
For instance, around 60,000 inmates (under trial prisoners and convicts) were released on bail or parole during the lockdown, in a bid to decongest jails to lower coronavirus threat where NALSA and state units played an active role. As per the report, a total of 42,259 undertrial prisoners were released from jails across the country during the lockdown period where Uttar Pradesh released highest number of 9,977.
Delhi’s legal aid services worked to secure release of 2,177 UTPs and 1,010 convicts, apart from deputing legal aid lawyers for 250 newly arrested persons at remand stage.
The report said due to extraordinary times, extraordinary measures were taken and pointed out that legal representation has also been provided to 9,558 persons at the remand stage in different States and Union Territories across the country. NALSA says during the lockdown period, several poor and needy persons approached it with grievances relating to denial of wages/salaries by employers on behalf of themselves as well as, other daily wagers.
“Out of the same, 1,822 people were provided with legal aid and assistance by the Legal Services Authorities. The highest number of such cases were reported in Uttarakhand (226) followed by Haryana (221), Punjab (166), Himachal Pradesh (77) and Mizoram (38). Legal aid and assistance was provided in all such cases,” it said, adding that legal aid and assistance was provided to 1,018 people of Bihar.