Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005

The offence of domestic violence is committed by someone in the victim’s domestic circle. It includes family members, husband, relatives, etc. The term domestic violence is often used when there is a close cohabitating relationship between the offender and the victim. The various forms of domestic violence include senior abuse, child abuse, honour-based abuse such as honour killing, female genital mutilation, and all forms of abuse by an intimate partner. 

The Act plays a critical role in the Indian legal system vis-a-vis protecting the rights of the women, so that they can feel protected and safe within the comfort of their own house. It is an exhaustive piece of legislation as it lays down the powers and duties of the various authorities, reliefs available to the victims, steps to filing a complaint regarding domestic violence, assistance provided to the victims of domestic violence, power and extent of the Indian Judiciary and the power of the Central Government to make rules. The Act provides civil remedies to the victims of domestic violence. And prior to the enactment of the Act, the victims of domestic violence sought civil remedies such as divorce, custody of children, injunctions in any form or maintenance only by taking recourse to civil courts. Therefore, the Act brought about necessary changes in the Indian legislature.