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 for  matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. BE it enacted by Parliament in the Fifty-sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:- 1. Short title, extent and commencement.-(1) This Act may be called the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. (2) It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint. 2. Definitions.-In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a) "aggrieved person" means any woman who is, or has been, in a domestic relationship with the respondent and who alleges to have been subjected to any act of domestic violence by the respondent; (b) "child" means any person below the age of eighteen years and includes any adopted, step or foster child; (c) "compensation order" means an order granted in terms of section 22; (d) "custody order" means an order granted in terms of section 21; 

Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Rules, 2005