Structure of the Act — Section-by-Section Overview

The Act has 37 sections broadly divided into:

Chapter	Sections	Subject Matter
Preliminary	1–2	Short title, commencement, definitions
Domestic Violence	3	Definition of domestic violence
Powers & Duties	4–12	Informants, Protection Officers, Service Providers, Shelter Homes, Magistrate jurisdiction
Procedure & Orders	13–29	Application, notice, counselling, orders (protection, residence, monetary, custody, compensation)
Miscellaneous	30–37	Offence, appeals, bar of jurisdiction, protection of action in good faith, etc.

2.1 Key Definitions (Section 2) — Exam-Critical Terms

Section 2(a) — Aggrieved Person: Any woman who is or has been in a domestic relationship with the respondent and who alleges domestic violence against herself.

Section 2(f) — Domestic Relationship: A relationship between two persons who live or have lived together at any point of time in a shared household, when they are related by:

• Consanguinity (blood — mother-son, siblings)
• Marriage or a relationship in the nature of marriage (live-in)
• Adoption
• Are family members living together as a joint family

Section 2(q) — Respondent: Any adult male person who is or has been in a domestic relationship with the aggrieved person — except in cases where the aggrieved person is a mother and the respondent is her adult son.

Section 2(s) — Shared Household: A household where the aggrieved person lives or at any stage has lived in a domestic relationship, whether owned jointly or singly by either party.

Section 2(g) — Domestic Violence (cross-reference to Section 3).

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