The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act was passed by Parliament in the year:

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act was passed by Parliament in 2005 and came into force on 26 October 2006.

Purpose of the Act:

• It provides civil remedies to protect women from violence within the family or household.
• Before this law, the main remedy was criminal, under Section 498A of the IPC (cruelty by husband or relatives), which covered only married women.

Who is protected:

Any woman who is or has been in a domestic relationship with the respondent, including wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, widows and women in live-in relationships "in the nature of marriage".

Meaning of domestic violence:

The Act gives a broad definition that covers:

• Physical abuse.
• Sexual abuse.
• Verbal and emotional abuse, including insults and ridicule.
• Economic abuse, such as denying money for necessities or disposing of the woman's assets.
• Dowry-related harassment is also included.

Main features:

• Right to reside: A woman has the right to live in the shared household, whether or not she has any title or right in it.
• Protection Officers: The state appoints Protection Officers to help women file complaints and reach the courts.
• Service Providers: Registered NGOs can help women with legal aid, medical care and shelter.
• Reliefs from the Magistrate: Protection orders, residence orders, monetary relief, custody orders and compensation orders.
• Penalty: Breach of a protection order is punishable with imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to Rs 20,000, or both.

Supreme Court rulings:

In 2016, the Supreme Court held that a complaint can also be filed against women relatives of the husband, by striking down the words "adult male" in the definition of respondent.

Related laws:

• The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
• The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013.

Why not the other options?

• ✗1998 and 2010 are incorrect.
• ✗2013 is the year of the law on sexual harassment at the workplace.