PWDV Act 2005
Definition
Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 (India). Provides civil remedies -- protection orders, residence orders, monetary relief -- for women experiencing physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, or economic violence within domestic relationships. Does not require the victim to pursue criminal prosecution.
- Full name
- Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005
- Jurisdiction
- India
- Remedies
- Protection orders, residence orders, monetary relief
- Nature
- Civil remedy, does not require criminal prosecution
Common questions
How does the PWDV Act differ from criminal domestic violence provisions?+
PWDV is a civil law providing protective and monetary remedies without requiring a criminal case, whereas provisions like Section 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 (cruelty by husband or relatives, formerly IPC Section 498A) are criminal and require police investigation and prosecution.
Can a woman use the PWDV Act and file a criminal complaint at the same time?+
Yes. PWDV Act remedies are not mutually exclusive with criminal proceedings, so a woman can pursue a civil domestic violence case under this Act alongside a separate criminal complaint arising from the same facts.
Related terms
- Coercive Control
- A pattern of behaviour in intimate relationships that seeks to deny autonomy and dominate the victim through means including isolation, monitoring, financial...
- Danger Assessment (DA)
- A 20-item validated instrument developed by Dr. Jacquelyn Campbell for estimating the risk of intimate-partner homicide or near-lethal assault. Combines a weighted...
- Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
- Physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse. Encompasses physical assault, sexual coercion, emotional abuse, and coercive...
- Safety Planning
- A collaborative process in which the nurse and patient identify practical steps to reduce immediate danger: documents to keep accessible, people to...
- Universal Screening
- Asking all patients in a clinical setting about IPV exposure, regardless of presenting complaint or risk appearance. Contrasted with targeted screening, which...