Section 1: Short Title, Extent, and Commencement Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
Section 1 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 lays down the basic legislative framework regarding the name, geographical scope, and the date from which the Act comes into effect. Though brief, this section plays a crucial role in establishing the applicability and legal status of the Act.
2. Short Title
Sub-section (1) of Section 1 provides the title of the statute:
“This Act may be called the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.”
The short title identifies the Act and reflects its primary purpose — to provide protection to women from domestic violence, including physical, emotional, verbal, sexual, and economic abuse within domestic settings.
3. Extent of Application
Sub-section (2) initially stated that the Act extends to the whole of India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. At the time of its enactment in 2005, Jammu and Kashmir had a special constitutional status under Article 370, which limited the application of central laws in the state.
However, following the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, and the enforcement of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, the Act is now applicable throughout the entire territory of India, including the newly formed Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
4. Commencement of the Act
Sub-section (3) mentions that the Act shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may notify. In line with this, the Central Government issued Notification S.O. 1776(E) dated 17th October 2006, which brought the Act into force on 26th October 2006.
5. Current Status (as of 2025)
As of July 2025, no amendments have been made to Section 1. It remains in its original form but is now fully applicable across India, ensuring that women in all states and union territories are covered under its protection.