The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 – All Sections

An Act to provide for more effective protection of the rights of women guaranteed under the Constitution who are victims of violence of any kind occurring within the family and formatters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 has 37 sections in 5 chapters, amended 1 times. Each link below opens the official text of that section. Official PDF on India Code.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 PDF

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Official copy of the Act from India Code (Legislative Department, Government of India).

All sections of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005

Chapter I: PRELIMINARY

Section 1 – Short title, extent and commencement
Section 2 – Definitions

Chapter II: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Section 3 – Definition of domestic violence

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

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

Chapter IV: PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING ORDERS OF RELIEFS

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

Chapter V: MISCELLANEOUS

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