Domestic violence may include not only physical assault but also mental, verbal, sexual and economic abuse as defined by law. The facts of each allegation and whether the relationship falls within the law’s scope must be examined.
An eligible woman may seek relief under the Domestic Violence Act, including protection, residence, monetary relief, custody and compensation. A Protection Officer and service providers may provide assistance. A residence order does not, by itself, create ownership rights in a house. Criminal complaints and relief under this Act are separate, but may be relevant at the same time.
What should you do now?
- If there is immediate danger, prioritise reaching a safe place and seeking police assistance.
- Keep a dated record of incidents, financial restrictions, injuries and threats.
- Seek necessary interim relief through a Protection Officer, legal aid or an advocate.
Which documents should you keep?
Medical records, messages, expense records, and evidence of the relationship and the shared household.
Avoid this mistake
It is incomplete to conclude either that every family disagreement automatically amounts to domestic violence, or that economic control is always a private matter.
A hypothetical example
A woman has not suffered physical injury, but alleges that money for essential medicines and food was deliberately withheld. The matter cannot be dismissed merely by saying that “there was no physical assault”; the facts may be examined to determine whether they fall within the scope of economic abuse.
Is it necessary to get a divorce before seeking relief?
No. Divorce is not a mandatory precondition for seeking relief from domestic violence.
Legal basis and useful source
This is general legal information. Advice may vary depending on your facts, the applicable law and state rules.