Mary says Joseph beat her

Just 48 hours old, the Domestic Violence (Prevention) Act gets its first case.

CHENNAI: Forty-seven year old Joseph of Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu acquired a dubious distinction on Saturday. He became the first person to be arrested under the new Domestic Violence (Prevention) Act.

Joseph, a peon with Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board (TNWDB), beat up his 37-year-old wife Benedict Mary, who filed a complaint with the Melapalayam police station. Mary, a school teacher, alleged that Joseph beat her with an umbrella when she refused to give him money.

“Joseph was a habitual drinker. He became enraged when Mary refused to give him the money,” Tirunelveli Police Commissioner G Umaganapathy Sastry told DNA.

Joseph was remanded to a 15-day judicial custody. “This is the first case under the new Act, which has enormous scope to curtail violence against women. We are going strong against the accused,” Sastry said.

The Act is meant to protect women against abuse by husbands and live-in partners. It was passed by Parliament in August 2005 and got the President’s nod in September 2005 before coming into force on Thursday.

Under the Act, wives, mothers, live-in partners, sisters, mothers-in-law or any woman with whom a man has a relation are covered. Any man accused of violence will have to cough up Rs20,000 as a fine and can be imprisoned.

The Act further provides for the appointment of protection officers and NGOs to provide assistance to a woman, medical examination, legal aid, and safe shelter.