Indian family court system probe announced
A new collaboration between The University of Manchester and Manipal Academy of Higher Education in Karnataka, will examine how family court processes in India affect the health and safety of women experiencing domestic violence.
The partnership will build an interdisciplinary team focused on the links between domestic violence, family courts and women鈥檚 health in South India.
That, they say, will generate early frameworks that can inform future reforms, judicial training and survivor鈥慶entred practice, laying the foundation for long鈥憈erm community partnerships and multi鈥慶ountry research.
Domestic violence is widespread in India, with national surveys showing that almost half of Indian women have faced some form of spousal abuse.
The southwestern state Karnataka alone recorded more than seventeen thousand cases in 2022.
Lead researcher from The University of Manchester said: 鈥淎lthough India handles well over a million family disputes each year, there is still no systematic research on how these legal journeys shape women鈥檚 long鈥憈erm wellbeing.
鈥淎nd there is some evidence which shows that court processes can sometimes prolong stress, fear and control.鈥�
The project will initially focus on assessing the feasibility of the study and map how family court procedures actually work for the women who go through the system.
Although India handles well over a million family disputes each year, there is still no systematic research on how these legal journeys shape women鈥檚 long鈥憈erm wellbeing. And there is some evidence which shows that court processes can sometimes prolong stress, fear and control
The team will also map key organisations in Karnataka, from women鈥檚 police stations to community health workers, to understand where survivors seek help and where systems may be falling short.
鈥淭his groundwork matters because India needs its own evidence base to make sure women are supported, not harmed, when they turn to the courts,鈥� added Dr Dalgarno.
The collaboration will provide opportunities for students in 91直播 and Karnataka interested in understanding the intersection of law, health and gender鈥慴ased violence
is Clinical Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology and Head of the Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care.
She said: 鈥淭his partnership aligns closely with both our universities鈥� commitments to tackling inequality, strengthening international collaboration and improving outcomes for marginalised communities.
鈥淏y focusing on women鈥檚 health, domestic violence and legal systems, the project speaks directly to shared priorities around gender equality, prevention of harm and access to safe, trauma鈥慽nformed services.鈥�
Professor Arathi Rao from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education said: 鈥淔amily courts are often a crucial point of contact for women seeking protection from domestic violence. Legal processes, while designed to deliver justice, can also impact women鈥檚 health, safety, and well-being.
鈥淏y examining these intersections, we aim to inform more responsive, survivor-centred systems that truly protect and support women during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.鈥�