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The Supreme Court on Friday allowed Centre time to plea reply in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking enforcement of 'network assistance' to victims of domestic violence and plugging of gaps in the Domestic Violence Act, 2006.

A bench of Justice UU Lalit and Justice S Ravindra Bhat said that the enactment has been introduced long ago while allowing 3 weeks time to the Central Government to file its response over the request made by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati.

The writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution was filed by an NGO called 'We the Women of India' seeking plugging of gaps in the DV Act, 2006. The petition seeks effective legal aid to women abused at the matrimonial homes and creating shelter homes for the women after they lodge a complaint against their husband and in-laws. 

However, Advocate Shobha Gupta appearing for the petitioner said, "It seems like the matter is not of any importance to the Government." 

Court said, "Please be considerate Ms. Gupta, the enactment was introduced long ago".

When the matter came up for hearing on the last date, the bench informed Shobha Gupta, Advocate for the Petitioner, that they were not inclined to issue notice to the States as it will delay the hearing. Shobha Gupta then sought the court to direct the Union and Ministries to file a status report on the implementation of network assistance, the court then informed her that the affidavit that the Union and the Ministries file maybe a status report.

The petition highlights that despite the act has come to force in 2005, domestic violence is yet to come down. 

Case title: We the Women of India Vs Union of India