Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005

What are the salient features of protection of women from domestic violence act 2005? What are the criticisms against the act? Read further to know more.

Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 is a major bill passed by the Indian Parliament during the UPA1 government regime (2005).

The law is crucial, as it helps in the protection of women from the violence, she faces in the place she lives in.

Salient features of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005

• Includes physical and mental ill-treatment.
• Primarily meant for the protection of wife or female live-in partners.
• Law also extends to sisters, widows, or mothers.
• Harassment in the form of dowry demands also included in this law.
• Gives women the right to secure housing.
• The court can also issue protection orders that prevent the abuser to harass the women by acts at her workplace.
• The act proposes the appointment of protection officers and NGOs.
• A breach of a protection order is a non-bailable offense.

Criticisms of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005

• Abused men not covered; this law is specifically for women.
• Violence against women is often perpetrated by women herself – Eg: Mother-in-law/ Daughter-in-law.
• Verbal abuse and mental harassment are subjective terms.