Domestic Violence Act

As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data a total number of 12036, 9873 and 4567 cases have been filed under the Protection of Women Against Domestic Violence Act, 2005 in the year 2010, 2011 and 2012. The number of cases filed under the Act clearly shows that women are using the law to get the reliefs from domestic violence.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 is a civil law meant for providing reliefs to women facing domestic violence. Under this law women can apply for reliefs in the nature of protection order, residence order, compensation order, monetary relief and custody order. It is only when the Protection Orders granted by the Courts are breached that criminal action is taken against the respondent under Section 31.

The Government of India regularly conducts awareness generation programmes and publicity campaigns on various laws relating to women including Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, through workshops, fairs, cultural programmes, seminars, training programmes etc. through the National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW) and through the autonomous institutions under the Ministry including the National Commission for Women (NCW) and National Institute of Public Corporation and Child Development(NIPCCD). Advertisements are regularly brought out in the print and electronic media to create awareness on laws relating to rights of women.