Vidhi Codex

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005

Civil200537 sections5 chapters

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, protects women in India from various forms of domestic abuse, including physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and economic harm. It applies to any woman who lives or has lived in a household with an abusive male partner or relative. This law matters because it guarantees a woman’s right to reside in her shared home, preventing arbitrary eviction. It also establishes a crucial support network of protection officers and shelter homes, while empowering courts to issue immediate protection, residency, and monetary orders, ensuring vulnerable women can quickly seek safety and financial relief.

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How to Obtain Protection Orders and Reliefs: Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act

Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title, extent and commencement.
  2. 2Definitions.

Chapter II DOMESTIC VIOLENCE →

  1. 3Definition of domestic violence.

Chapter III POWERS AND DUTIES OF PROTECTION OFFICERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, ETC. →

  1. 4Information to Protection Officer and exclusion of liability of informant.
  2. 5Duties of police officers, service providers and Magistrate.
  3. 6Duties of shelter homes.
  4. 7Duties of medical facilities.
  5. 8Appointment of Protection Officers.
  6. 9Duties and functions of Protection Officers.
  7. 10Service providers.
  8. 11Duties of Government.

Chapter IV PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING ORDERS OF RELIEFS →

  1. 12Application to Magistrate.
  2. 13Service of notice.
  3. 14Counselling.
  4. 15Assistance of welfare expert.
  5. 16Proceedings to be held in camera.
  6. 17Right to reside in a shared household.
  7. 18Protection orders.
  8. 19Residence orders.
  9. 20Monetary reliefs.
  10. 21Custody orders.
  11. 22Compensation orders.
  12. 23Power to grant interim and ex parte orders.
  13. 24Court to give copies of order free of cost.
  14. 25Duration and alteration of orders.
  15. 26Relief in other suits and legal proceedings.
  16. 27Jurisdiction.
  17. 28Procedure.
  18. 29Appeal.

Chapter V MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 30Protection Officers and members of service providers to be public servants.
  2. 31Penalty for breach of protection order by respondent.
  3. 32Cognizance and proof.
  4. 33Penalty for not discharging duty by Protection Officer.
  5. 34Cognizance of offence committed by Protection Officer.
  6. 35Protection of action taken in good faith.
  7. 36Act not in derogation of any other law.
  8. 37Power of Central Government to make rules.

PDF: pending for this language.