Women’s panel gets 1st complaint of domestic abuse from J&K UT

NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said that the woman who has been married for over a decade was asked to leave her home by her husband, who then remarried.

A case of domestic abuse from Srinagar is the first complaint that the National Commission for Women has received from Jammu and Kashmir after it officially became a Union Territory on October 31.

The complaint was filed on November 5 with the NCW by the survivor’s uncle, who is a government functionary. Image used for representation (Sonu Mehta/ HT photo)

The complaint was filed on November 5 with the NCW by the survivor’s uncle, who is a government functionary.

NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said that the woman who has been married for over a decade was asked to leave her home by her husband, who then remarried. “She had suffered physical and emotional abuse, and since the man’s second marriage has religious sanction, the complainant cannot seek action against that,” said Sharma.

Sharma added that the woman was seeking a divorce, which her husband was reportedly denying her. She has also sought her valuables and jewellery that she alleged she was not permitted to take with her.

“The Commission received its first complaint from Jammu & Kashmir after it became a Union Territory. We have taken cognisance of the matter and sent a notice with regards to the complaint to the DGP [Director General of Police],” a statement issued by the NCW read.

“A team of NCW members will travel across the UT, and among other things, we will study how women cope with the long periods of militancy,” Sharma said.