Domestic Violence and Access to Justice: Barriers Faced by Women in Rural Areas

Dr. Bijayananda Behera, Sushil Kumar Dip

Abstract: Domestic violence against women represents a critical social, legal, and human-rights challenge in India, particularly in rural regions where structural inequalities and patriarchal traditions prevail. Despite progressive legal frameworks such as the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, and constitutional guarantees of equality and dignity, the reality on the ground reflects substantial gaps between law and lived experience. Women in rural areas continue to encounter formidable barriers in accessing justice, including limited legal awareness, economic dependency, geographical isolation, weak institutional mechanisms, and socio-cultural pressures that normalise violence and discourage reporting. The justice delivery system-comprising police, Protection Officers, medical authorities, and courts0often remains inaccessible and unresponsive to rural realities, resulting in under-reporting, delayed remedies, and inadequate protection. This article critically examines the multifaceted obstacles hindering rural women?s pursuit of justice in domestic violence cases, evaluates the implementation challenges of the PWDVA, and analyses judicial interventions aimed at safeguarding women?s rights. It further argues that meaningful access to justice must go beyond statutory provisions and incorporate economic empowerment, institutional accountability, community transformation, and gender-sensitive governance. Strengthening grassroots legal literacy, enhancing support services, and ensuring strict enforcement of statutory mandates are imperative to actualise constitutional promises and foster a violence-free rural society. The study underscores that addressing domestic violence in rural India demands a holistic, intersectional, and rights-based approach rooted in dignity, equality, and social justice.

Keywords: Domestic violence, Rural women, Access to justice, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005, Gender-based violence, Legal awareness, Patriarchy, Judicial remedies, Socio-economic barriers, Women's rights, Rural governance, Human rights, Social justice, India

How to Cite?: Dr. Bijayananda Behera, Sushil Kumar Dip, "Domestic Violence and Access to Justice: Barriers Faced by Women in Rural Areas", Volume 14 Issue 12, December 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 110-115, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR251030123000, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR251030123000