Lok Sabha Question No. 1630 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: Safety of Women Living in Live-in-Relationship
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, Pushpendra Singh Chandel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1630

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2022

## SAFETY OF WOMEN LIVING IN LIVE-IN-RELATIONSHIP

1630.  SHRIMATI MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH:

SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken/  proposes  to  take  any  special  steps  to ensure  safety  of  the  women  living  in  live-in-relationship  before  marriage  and protection of their rights including against domestic violence;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  efforts  to  conduct  the  survey  or maintain records of such couples, if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a)  to  (c):  The  Government  has  enacted  'the  Protection  of  Women  from  Domestic Violence Act, 2005' (PWDVA) to provide for more effective protection of the rights of women  who  are  victims  of  violence  of  any  kind  occurring  within  the  family  and  for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.  As per sub-section (f) of Section (2) of  the  aforesaid  Act   'domestic  relationship'  means  relationship  between  two  persons who live or have, at any point of time, lived together in a shared household, when they are  related  by  consanguinity,  marriage,  or  through  a  relationship  in  the  nature  of marriage, adoption or are family members living together as a joint family". The Hon'ble Supreme Court and other Hon'ble Courts in a number of judgements have held the view that  'live-in-relationship',  which  are  in  the  nature  of  marriage  are  covered  under  the provisions of PWDVA.

Further, 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibility to maintain law and order, protection of life and  property  of  the  citizens  including  investigation  and  prosecution  of  crime  against women and children rests primarily with the respective State Governments and they are competent to deal with it.

Nevertheless,  the  Central  Government  gives  highest  priority  to  ensuring  safety  and security of women and has undertaken various legislative and schematic interventions in this regard. These include legislations such as 'The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act,

2018',  'The  Protection  of  Women  from  Domestic  Violence  Act,  2006',  'The  Dowry Prohibition  Act,  1961',  etc'.   In  addition  the  schemes/  projects  implemented  by  the Government for extending necessary help and support to women facing violence and in distress  include  One  Stop  Centres  (OSCs);  Universalisation  of  Women  Helplines (WHL),  Emergency  Response  Support  System  (ERSS)  which  is  a  pan-India  single number  (112)/  mobile  app  based  system  for  emergencies;  capacity  building  in community through awareness programmes, setting up/ strengthening of Women Help Desks (WHDs) at Police Stations etc.

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