News
Nepal Has Finally Enacted the Domestic Violence and Punishment Act 2065
We are delighted to note that on April 19, 2009 Nepal has finally followed the example of her neighbours, by enacting the Domestic Violence and Punishment Act 2065. However we are saddened that under the Law perpetrators will only be subject to up to four months of imprisonment and a fine of Rs6, 000 (about US$76). This is pretty pathetic as the original draft had been a six-month prison term, a fine of Rs25, 000, (aboutUS$325) or both. In India for example men who beat, threaten or even shout at their wives or live-in partners can be jailed for up to a year and fined 20,000 rupees (US$273).
However unlike Bangladesh no provision has been made in either country for burn and acid violence. The Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery of Dec 2007 concluded that in India alone “we would estimate 700,000 to 800,000 burn injuries annually”. We do not know how many of these are accidents as opposed to burn violence, but Indian Government statistics show an estimated 7000 brides are killed and 18000 are maimed every year in India over dowry disputes alone.
Shockingly, acid is still easily available in India. Even a child can buy a litre of highly concentrated acid over the counter for less than 20 rupees. It continues to be used to clean bathrooms, tiles and jewellery, and there are no laws to regulate its sale or concentration.
Bangladesh introduced The Acid Crime Control Act in 2002 where acid crimes are rigorously controlled by mandating stringent punishment ranging from between three years and 15 years and a hefty fine, to life imprisonment and even capital punishment.
It also reduced the period of investigation to a mandatory maximum 60 days, and acid violence related cases are now tried by the Acid Tribunal Court where there is a directory instruction to complete the case within 90 days. Any negligence in investigating an incident of acid attack is also a punishable offence under the new law, which leaves no scope for bail, except in case of an appeal to the high court.
Surely it is about time that India and Nepal take the necessary legal action and subsequent severe punishment to address the terrible problem of burn and acid violence.
Posted on October 05th 2009 by Col. Paul Pettigrew in Blog
