Facing violence at home
What the law gives you. Where help is free.
If you are being hurt, threatened or controlled at home, you are not alone, and it is not your fault. Indian law gives you strong and fast protection, and every step of getting it is free. If you are in danger right now, call 112, or the Women Helpline on 181.
What the law says
- The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 covers physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and economic abuse. It is not only about being hit. Controlling your money, or threatening you, also counts.
- It protects you whether or not you are married to the person. Wives, live-in partners, mothers, sisters and daughters living in a shared household are all covered.
- You have the right to keep living in your shared home. You cannot be thrown out of it, even if it is not in your name.
- A Magistrate can pass protection orders that stop the abuse and stop contact, residence orders, monetary relief, and temporary custody of children. The first hearing is usually fixed within three days of your application.
- Cruelty by a husband or his relatives is also a criminal offence. You can file an FIR at any police station, separately from the protection application.
What to do
- 1
If you are in danger right now, get safe first
Call 112 for emergency help, or 181, the Women Helpline, which is free and open 24 hours. If you can, go to a neighbour, a relative, or a police station. Your safety comes before any paperwork.
- 2
See a doctor, and keep the records
If you have been hurt, see a doctor and keep the prescription and the report. You have a right to medical help, and these records become your evidence.
- 3
Contact the Protection Officer for your district
Every district has a Protection Officer whose job is to help you, free of cost. They record what happened in a Domestic Incident Report and file your application to the Magistrate. The Women Helpline on 181, or any police station, can connect you to them.
- 4
Ask the Magistrate for the orders you need
Protection from the abuser, the right to stay in your home, monthly monetary relief, custody of your children. You can ask for all of these in one application. There is no court fee, and free legal aid is your right.
Your rights
Emergency help
- How long it takes
- Immediately
- Where to go
- 112 for emergency. 181, Women Helpline, 24 hours.
- Cost
- Free
Protection and residence orders
- How long it takes
- First hearing usually within 3 days
- Where to go
- Protection Officer, or the Magistrate directly
- Cost
- Free. No court fee.
Stay in your shared home
- How long it takes
- Immediate. You cannot be evicted.
- Where to go
- Part of the same application
- Cost
- Free
Monetary relief and child custody
- How long it takes
- With the same application
- Where to go
- The Magistrate
- Cost
- Free
Free lawyer
- How long it takes
- At any stage. Every woman qualifies.
- Where to go
- District Legal Services Authority (DLSA)
- Cost
- Free, whatever your income
Common questions
When you need a lawyer
This is serious. Speak to a lawyer now. The law has already paid for one: every woman can get free legal aid through the District Legal Services Authority, whatever her income. The Protection Officer, the DLSA and the 181 helpline exist so that you never have to face this alone or spend money to be safe. If children, property or divorce are involved, the same free lawyer can guide you on those too.
Free legal aid is your right. Check if you qualify.This is guidance, not a lawyer. Miss Lucy Lite helps you understand your rights and what to do next. She is not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. If you need a document written, such as a notice, a complaint or an application, she can write it for you as a finished document. For a court case, see a lawyer.