Question

An Act to provide more effective protection of the Rights of the women guaranteed under the Constitution who are victim of assault of any kind occurring within the family:
1. Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
2. Sexual Harassment of women at work place Act, 2013
3. Domestic Violence Act, 2005
4. The Indecent Representation of Women Act, 1986.

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Domestic Violence Act, 2005

THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT, 2005

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.

Domestic violence means

• Causing hurt, injury or danger to life, limb, health, safety or well-being, whether mental or physical.
• Causing harm, injury, or danger to the woman with an intention to coerce her or any other person related to her to meet any demand for dowry.
• “Physical abuse" includes hurt of any kind. Assault, criminal intimidation and criminal force.
• “Sexual abuse" such as conduct of a sexual nature such as forced sexual intercourse, forcing the aggrieved person to watch pornography or other obscene material. 
• “Verbal and emotional abuse" such as Accusation/aspersion on character or conduct. Insult for not brining dowry, Insult for not having a male child. etc.

Who is covered under the Act?

• The Act covers all women who may be mother, sister, wife, widow or partners living in a shared household. The relationship may be in nature of marriage or adoption.
• In addition relationships with family members living together as a joint family are also included. However, no female relative of the husband or the male partner can file a complaint against the wife or the female partner, for e.g. the mother-in-law cannot file an application against a daughter-in-law, but she can file an application against her daughter-in-law for abetting her son to commit violence against her.