The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005

VPS LAW FIRM, COIMBATORE

THE  PROTECTION  OF WOMEN  FROM DOMESTIC  VIOLENCE  ACT,  2005

I.     Introduction ………………………………………………………………….. 1

II.     Statement  of   Objects   and   Reasons……………………………… 5

Chapter  I PRELIMINARY

1.    Short title, extent and commencement………………………………….. 10

2.    Definitions…………………………………………………………………………….. 13

(a) “aggrieved person”………………………………………………………….. 13

(b) “child”…………………………………………………………………………….. 13

(c)  “compensation order” ……………………………………………………… 13

(d)  “custody  order”………………………………………………………………. 13

(e) “domestic incident report” ………………………………………………. 13

(f) “domestic relationship”…………………………………………………….. 13

(g) “domestic violence” ………………………………………………………… 14

(h)  “dowry”………………………………………………………………………….14

(i) “Magistrate”……………………………………………………………………… 14

(j) “medical facility” ………………………………………………………………  14

(k) “monetary relief …………………………………………………………….. 14

(1) “notification” ……………………………………………………………………. 14

(m)  “prescribed” …………………………………………………………………… 14

(n) “Protection Officer”………………………………………………………… 14

(o) “protection order” …………………………………………………………… 14

(p) “residence order” ………………………………………………… 14

(q) “respondent”……………………………………………………………………. 15

(r) “service provided” …………………………………………………………… 15

(s) “shared household” …………………………………………………………. 15

(t) “shelter home” ………………………………………………………………… 15

Chapter II DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

3.    Definition of domestic Voilence—————————–    25

vi        Protection of Women from  Domestic Violence  Act, 2005

Chapter  III

POWERS AND DUTIES OF PROTECTION OFFICE! SERVICE PROVIDERS, ETC,

4.    Information to Protection Officer and exclusion of liability of informant

5.    Duties of police officers, service providers and  Magistrate

6.    Duties of shelter homes…………………………………………

7.    Duties of medical facilities ………………….,…………………..

8.    Appointment of Protection Officers………………………….

9.    Duties and functions of Protection Officers………………

10.    Service providers ………………………………………………………..

11.    Duties of Government………………………………………………..

Chapter IV                             
PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING ORDERS OF RELIEFS

12.    Application to Magistrate …………………….,.„„……………….

13.    Service of notice……………………………………………………..

14.    Counselling…………………………………………………………………

15.    Assistance of welfare expert……………………………………..

16.    Proceedings to be held in camera …………………………….

17.    Right to reside in a shared household ………………………

18.    Protection  orders ……………………………………………………….

19.    Residence orders …………………………………………………….._

20.    Monetary reliefs …………………………………………………………

21.    Custody  orders ………………………………………………………….

22.    Compensation orders ………………………………………………….

23.    Power to grant  interim and ex parts orders…………….

24.    Court to give copies of order free of cost………………

25.    Duration and alteration of orders ……………………………..

26.    Relief in other suits and legal proceedings……………….

27.    Jurisdiction ………………………………………………………………..

28.    Procedure………………………………………………………………….

29.    Appeal ………………………………………………………………………

Chapter V MISCELLANEOUS

30.    Protection  Officers and  members of service

providers to be public servants ……………………………….

31.   Penalty for breach of protection order by respondent…………. 89

32.   Cognizance and proof…………………………………………………………… 92

33.   Penalty for not discharging duty by Protection  Officer ………..96

34.   Cognizance of offence committed by Protection Officer……… 99

35.   Protection of action taken in good faith…………………………….. 102

36.   Act not in derogation of any other law

37.   Power of Central Government to make rules…………………….. 105

     THE VACUUM FILLED BY THE PROTECTION OF

WOMEN FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT, 2005…………… 110

•   NOTES ON CLAUSES ……………………………………………………………. 113

.   PROBLEMS, SOLUTIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS

UNDER PROTECTION OF WOMEN……………………………………… 121

1.    If Religion or Region differs …………:………………………………….. 121

2.    Past domestic events ………………………………………………………….. 122

3.    Cause of action ………………………………………………………………….. 122

4.    Place where cause of action takes place …………………………… 123

5.    Consent of the aggrieved women ………………………………………. 125

6.    Service of notice………………………………………………………………… 126

7.    Procedure before the Magistrate…………………………………………. 127

8.    Incidents of Domestic Violence ………………………………………….. 128

9.    If the domestic event amounts to an offence under

Criminal Law ……………………………………………………………………… 129

10.    Who may file the complaint………………………………………………. 130

11.    Persons against whom complaint can be made………………….. 131

12.    Where Acts of Domestic Violence come within the scope

of offences punishable under criminal laws — Procedure …. 132

13.    Persons liable to be punished under this Act…………………….. 134

14.    Permission  for Prosecution …………………………………………………. 135

15.    New Jurisprudence  under Protection of Woman

from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and Jurisdiction of

Lok Adalat………………………………………………………………………….. 135

viii      Protection   of Women   from   Domestic  Violence  Act, 2005

RELEVANT PROVISIONS FROM OTHER ACTS

1.    Indian  Evidence Act,  1872

112. Birth during marriage, conclusive proof

of legitimacy”……………………………………………………

2.     Hindu   Marriage Act,  1955

24.  Maintenance pendente life and  expenses of proceedings ……………………………………….

3.     Hindu  Adoptions  &  Maintenance  Act,   1956

~     Chapter-Ill Maintenance

18. Maintenance of wife …………………………………………._

19. Maintenance of widowed daughter-in-law………………

20. Maintenance of children and aged parents …………_

21.  Dependants defined ……………………………………………._

22. Maintenance of dependants……………………………………

23. Amount of maintenance ………………………………………_

24. Claimant to maintenance should be a Hindu ………..

25. Amount of maintenance may be altered

on change of circumstances…………………………………

26. Debts to have priority…………………………………………

27. Maintenance when to be a charge………………………

28. Effect of transfer of property on right to                  
maintenance…………………………………………………….

4.    The Special Marriage Act,  1954                              

37.  Permanent alimony and maintenance…………………..

38.  Custody of Children……………………………………………

5.    The  Parsi  Marriage and  Divorce Act,  1936

40. Permanent alimony and maintenance………………..

41.  Payment of alimony to wife or to her trustee ….

6.    The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce)
Rules, 1986                                                                 
3. Service of summons……………………………………………..

NOTIFICATIONS

•     List of Protection  Officers

1.    Women Development Child Welfare and Disabled Welfare Department Appointment of Project Directors of District Women and Child Development Agency      ••’••••• as Protection Officers under Protection of Women  from Domestic Violence Act, 2005

[G.O.Ms.No. 22, Women Development, Child Welfare & Disabled Welfare (WP1) Dept., dt. 9-1 1-2006] ………….

2.    Appointment of Revenue Divisional Officers as

Protection Officers under Protection of Women from

Domestic Violence Act, 2005.

[G.O.Ms.No.  314,  Revenue  (Ser-I),   llth  March,  2008]…

THE  PROTECTION OF WOMEN FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RULES, 2006

1.     Short tile and commencement…………………………………………….. 167

2. Definitions…………………………………………………………………………… 167

3. Qualifications and experience for Protection Officers………….. 167

4. Information to Protection Officers ……………………………………… 167

5. Domestic incident reports …………………………………………………… 168

6. Applications to the Magistrate …………………………………………….. 168

7. Affidavit for obtaining ex-parte orders of Magistrate………….. 168

8. Duties and functions of Protection Officers……………………….. 168

9. Action to be taken in cases of emergency………………………… 170

10. Certain other duties of the Protection Officers ………………….. 170

11. Registration of service providers ………………………………………… 171

12. Means of service of notices ………………………………………………. 172

13. Appointment of Counsellors………………………………………………… 173

14. Procedure to be followed by Counsellors…………………………… 174

15. Breach of Protection Orders ………………………………………………. 175

16. Shelter to the aggrieved person………………………………………….. 177

17. Medical facility to the aggrieved person …………………………….. 177

X         Protection  of Women  from  Domestic Violence Act,   

Forms

I.   Domestic incident report under Sections 9(b) and 37(2)(cj of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005…………………………………………………………………….

II.  Application to the Magistrate under Section  12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (43 of 2005)………………………………………………

III.  Affidavit under Section 23(2) of the Protection of

Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 ………………..

IV.   Information on Rights of Aggrieved persons under the

Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005…..

V.   Safety Plan ………………………………………………………………….

VI.  Form for Registration as Service Providers under Section 10(1) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 ………………………………………

VII. Notice for appearance under Section  13(1) of the

Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. …_

RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF STATUTES REFERRED IN THE ACT

1.   The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

Judgment and decree

33. Judgment and decree ……………………………………….

34.  Interest……………………………………………………………..

2.  The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961

2.     Definition of “dowry”………………………………………

3.  The  Legal  Services Authorities Act,  1987

12.   Criteria for giving legal services ……..

13.   Entitlement for legal services…………..

4.  The Indian Penal Code,  1860

21.   “Public Servant”………………………………………………

304-B.Dowry death …………………………………………………

498-A. Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty ……………………………….

 Contents

The  Code  of Criminal   Procedure,   1973

Chapter  VI

Processes to compel appearance A – Summons

61.   Forms  of Summons ……………………………………………………… 212

62.   Summons  how  served ………………………………………………….. 212

63.   Service of summons on corporate  bodies and  societies.. 213

64.   Service when  persons summoned cannot  be found ……… 213

65.   Procedure when  service cannot be effected  as  before

provided………………………………………………………………………… 213

66.   Service on Government servant……………………………………. 213

67.   Service of summons outside local  limits………………………. 213

68.   Proof of service in such cases and when  serving

officer not present………………………………………………………… 214

69.   Service of summons on  witness  by post…………………….. 214

B –  Warrant of Arrest

70.   Form of warrant of arrest and duration ………………………. 214

71.   Power to direct security to be taken …………………………… 215

72.   Warrants to  whom directed …………………………………………..215

73.    Warrant may be directed to any person ………………………. 215

74.   Warrant directed to police officer ………………………………… 216

75.   Notification of substance of warrant…………….—……………. 216

76.   Person arrested to be brought before Court

without delay …………………………………………………………………216

77.   Where warrant may be executed………………………………….. 216

73.    Warrant forwarded for execution outside jurisdiction ……. 216

79.   Warrant directed to police officer for execution

outside jurisdiction ………………………………………………………… 216

80.    Procedure  on  arrest of person  against whom

warrant  issued………………………………………………………………. 217

81.   Procedure  by  Magistrate before whom  such  person

arrested  is  brought……………………………………………………….. 217

.;        C — Proclamation and Attachment

82.  Proclamation  for person absconding……………………………… 218

83.  Attachment of property of person absconding ……………… 218

84.  Claims and objections to attachment…………………………….. 220

xii       Protection  of Women from  Domestic Violence Act,  2005

85.   Release, sale and restoration of attached property ….

86.   Appeal from order rejecting application for restoration of attached property……………………………………………

D – Other Rules regarding processes

87.   Issue of warrant in lieu of, or in addition to, summons…………………………………………………………….

88.   Power to take bond for appearance …………………..

89.   Arrest on breach of bond for appearance ………….

90.   Provisions of this Chapter generally applicable to summonses and warrants of arrest…………………….

Chapter  VIII Security for keeping the peace and for good behaviour

106.    Security for keeping the peace on conviction……….

107.    Security for keeping the peace in other cases ……..

108.    Security for good behaviour from persons disseminating
    seditious matters ……………………………………………………

109.    Security for good behaviour from  suspected  persons

110.    Security for good behaviour from habitual offenders

111.   Order to be made ……………………………………………..

112.    Procedure in respect of person present  in Court…..

113.    Summons or warrant in case of person not so present

114.    Copy of order to accompany summons or warrant

115.    Power to dispense with personal attendance …………

116.    Inquiry as to truth of information…………………………

117.    Order to give security …………………………………………..

118.    Discharge of person informed against……………………

119.    Commencement of period for which security

     is required ……………………………………………………………..

120.    Contents of bond…………………………………………………..

121.    Power to reject sureties ………………………………………..

122.    Imprisonment in default of security ………………………

123.    Power to release persons imprisoned for failing to
    give security………………………………………………………….

124.    Security for unexpired period of bond …………………

  Contents

Chapter IX

                 Order for maintenance of Wives,  Children and Parents

125. Order for maintenance of wives, children and parents…. 231

126. Procedure ……………………………………………………………………… 234

127. Alteration in allowance ………………………………………………….. 234

128. Enforcement of order of maintenance…………………………… 235

Chapter XXI Summary Trials

260.  Power to try summarily ………………………………………………. 236

261.  Summary trial  by Magistrate of the second class……….. 237

262.  Procedure  for summary trials………………………………………. 237

263.  Record  in summary trials…………………………………………….. 237

264. Judgment in cases tried summarily………………………………. 237

265.  Language of record and judgment……………………………….. 237

6.  The Societies  Registration  Act,   1860

Chapter I General

1. Societies formed by Memorandum of Association

and registration ……………………………………………………………………..238

2. Memorandum of Association …………………………………………………238

3. Registration and fees ……………………………………………………………. 238

DRAFT

COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON PROTECTION AGAINST SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN BILL, 2005

Introduction ………………………………………………………………………… 239

THE PROTECTION AGAINST SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN BILL, 2005

Preamble ………………………………………………………………… ………….243

Chapter I PRELIMINARY

1.    Short title, extent and commencement………………………………… 243

2.    Definitions……………………………………………………………………………243

Chapter II

RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Sexual  Harassment  Unlawful

3.     …………………………………………………………………………………………..251

4.     …………………………………………………………………………………………..251

5.     …………………………………………………………………………………………..251

6.     …………… …………………………………………………………………………….252

7.     …………………………………………………………………………………………..252

xiv      Protection  of Women  from  Domestic Violence  Act, 2iN

9.     ……………………………………………………………………………

10.     ……………………………………………………………………………

1 1 .   …………………………………………………………………………….

12.     …………………………………………………………………………….

13.     ……………………………………………………………………………

14.     ……………………………………………………………………………

Chapter  III
      AUTHORITIES UNDER THIS ACT

15.  Duty of the Establishment to Constitute Internal
           Complaints Committees………………………………………….

16.  Constitution of Internal Complaints Committee………

17.   …………………………………………………………………………….

18.  Appointment of Local Officer for every District…..

19.  Constitution of Local Complaints Committee …………

20.   A Public Establishment shall be required to………….

21.   ……………………………………………………………………………

22.   …………………………………………………………………………….

23.   ……………………………„…………………………………_……….

24.   …………………………………………………………………………….

25.   …………………………………………………………………………….

26.   …………………………………………………………………………….

27.   …………………………………………………………………………….

28.   ……………………………………………………………………………

29.   …………………………………………………………………………….

30.   …………………………………………………………………………..

31.   It shall be the duty of the…………………………………..

32.   Complaints Committees for Statutory Boards ………..

33.   …………………………………………………………………………….

Chapter IV
      DUTIES OF AUTHORITIES UNDER THIS ACT

34.   General duties of an establishment………………………..

35.   Duties of the Internal Complaints Committee………..

36.   Duties of Local Officers……………………………………….

37.   Duties of the Local Complaints Committee …………..

38.   Prohibition of Victimisation ……………………………………

39.   Vicarious liability …………………………………………………..

Contents                                                                    XV

Chapter V

          PROCEDURE FOR LODGING A COMPLAINT

40.   Before the Internal Complaints Committee …………………………..268

41.   Before the Local Officer/Local Complaints Committee…………268

42.   Oral Complaints to be Reduced in Writing …………………………269

43.   Written Consent Mandatory in Specific Situations ……………….269

44.   Where Sexual harassment amounts to criminal offence………. 269

45.     Confidentiality of Complaints ……………………………………………….270

Chapter VI                                      
PROCEDURE IN CASE OF MISCONDUCT

46.     Complaints Committee………………………………………………………….271

47.     Representation……………………………………………………………………… 271

48.   Dispute Resolution prior to enquiry …………………………………….271

49.     Conducting of Enquiry ……………………………………………………….. 272

50.     Participation of Complainant ………………………………………………..272

51.   Framing of Charge sheet …………………………………………………….272

52.   …………………………………………………………………………………………..272

53.   Rules of Evidence before Complaints Committee…………………274

54.   Power to Issue Interim Orders …………………………………………..275

55.   …………………………………………………………………………………………..276

56.   Enquiry to be completed within 90 days …………………………… 276

57.   Findings and Directions………………………………………………………. 276

58.   Action to Be Taken After Enquiry …………………………………….. 277

59.   Delay in Filing the Complaint ……………………………………………..277

Chapter VII

60.    Appeals Against Decisions/Reports of Complaints

Committees …………………………………………………………………………. 278

Chapter VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

61.    Confidentiality ………………………………………………………………………280

62.    Services of Counsellor to be made available to the

Complainant……………………………………………………….._…………….. 280

63.    Withdrawal of Complaint…………………………………………………….. 280

64.    Complainant/Witnesses/Supporters not be penalized ………………280

     Protection of Women from  Domestic Violence Act, 2005

65.   No court fees payable ………………………………………………………..281

66.   …………………………………………………………………………………………..281

67.   Complaints Committees to submit Annual Reports ………………281

68.     Workers Initiative ……………………………………………………………….. 281

69.   Act not in derogation of any other Law ……………………………282

70.   Power to make rules ………………………………………………………….282

71.   …………………………………………………………………………………………..282

SCHEDULE-I………………………………………………………………………………….. 283

SCHEDULE-H

List of employments in the unorganised sector……………. 287