The Prosecutor General’s Office has launched an online system to facilitate the application for court orders in domestic violence cases in a move towards establishing victim support mechanism. The initiative, announced by Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem, is set to streamline the process for victims seeking justice.
The new system allows victims to log into the PG Office’s website using their Efaas login credentials, a secure authentication method for accessing various government services. Upon successful login, the system auto-fills the user’s details, including name, address, email, and national ID card number, simplifying the form-filling process. The victim is then required to provide specific details about the incident, according to Shameem.
“This digital transformation obviates the necessity for victims to make physical court appearances for form submissions, thereby mitigating their burden and enhancing the efficiency of the process,” stated Shameem in a blog post.
The web portal allows victims to submit the form to their preferred court. Upon form submission, the respective court is notified via email from the Prosecutor General’s Office. This service is designed to alleviate the challenges faced by victims in their pursuit of justice in domestic violence cases, Shameem said.
In addition, the system ensures transparency by notifying victims of any court decisions related to their request for a court order. These notifications, including information on whether the request has been accepted or denied and any requests from the court to amend the forms, are sent via email and can be accessed on the portal.
However, Shameem highlighted that courts can bypass the PG Office online portal and interact directly with the victim. “This could conceivably augment the burden on the victim and revert to the conventional modalities of court interaction,” he cautioned.
As per the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act, courts have the authority to issue various orders to safeguard the interests of the victims or any children involved. These include protection, residence, custody, and compensation orders.