Domestic violence cases require accurate details, proper documentation, and structured information for filing a complaint under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (DV Act).
This comprehensive checklist helps aggrieved women, lawyers, NGOs, and legal aid officers prepare a strong DV complaint.
Complainant’s Personal Information (Aggrieved Woman)
Collect the following details clearly:
- Full Name
- Age & Date of Birth
- Present Address
- Permanent Address
- Contact Number
- Email ID
- Education Level
- Occupation
- Monthly Income
- Bank Account Details (if monetary relief is claimed)
Respondent’s Details (Husband & In-laws)
Includes every person accused under the DV Act:
- Name of Husband
- Names of Other Respondents (in-laws, relatives)
- Relationship of each respondent with complainant
- Addresses of all respondents
- Occupation & Income of each respondent
- Whether they live in the shared household
Marriage and Relationship Details
Essential relationship facts:
- Date & Place of Marriage
- Type of Marriage (Registered / Traditional)
- Religion & Caste
- Dowry or Stridhan details
- Whether living together / separated / divorced
- Number of children (names, age, schooling)
Shared Household Information
Details regarding the home where abuse happened:
- Address of shared household
- Who owns the property
- Whether complainant was living there at the time of violence
- Was she forced out, threatened, or left voluntarily
Details of Domestic Violence Incidents
Must include specific and detailed allegations:
Types of Domestic Violence:
- Verbal & Emotional Abuse
- Physical Abuse
- Sexual Abuse
- Economic Abuse
- Threats, intimidation, and harassment
Provide:
- Dates, times, and duration of incidents
- Specific acts of violence
- Where each incident took place
- Prior police complaints, FIR numbers, diary entries
Evidence Supporting the Complaint
Include any available evidence:
- Medical reports, injury certificates
- Photos, videos
- Witness statements
- WhatsApp messages, SMS, emails, call recordings
- Social media messages
- Any previous legal cases (DV, 85 BNS, maintenance, custody)
Reliefs Sought Under DV Act
The DV Act provides multiple protections:
Reliefs you can seek:
- Protection Order (Section 18)
- Residence Order (Section 19)
- Monetary Relief (Section 20)
- Child Custody (Section 21)
- Compensation/Damages (Section 22)
- Interim Orders (Section 23)
- Right to Reside in Shared Household
Details of Pending/Previous Cases
Mention if any cases already exist:
- Section 85 BNS FIR
- Maintenance under Section 144 BNSS
- Divorce petition
- Child custody case
- Mediation or settlement attempts
Jurisdictional & Police Details
Provide details of the police and protection officer:
- Name of police station where complaint was filed
- Name/Contact of Protection Officer
- Locality where violence occurred
- Whether complainant currently lives in that jurisdiction
Mental & Physical Condition of the Complainant
Mention:
- Any psychiatric or medical treatment
- Financial dependency
- Any threats to withdraw complaint
- Level of physical or emotional trauma
Urgent Relief Needed
If immediate protection is needed, mention:
- Danger to life or safety
- Need for shelter home
- Emergency child custody
- Immediate residence order
Additional Notes / Special Demands
Include:
- Any other important facts
- Threats, pressure, or attempts at compromise
- Expected outcome (maintenance, custody, separation, protection, etc.)
Conclusion
A Domestic Violence complaint must be filed with clear facts, detailed incidents, and solid evidence.
This checklist ensures that the complaint under DV Act is:
✔ Structured
✔ Legally complete
✔ Supported by documents
✔ Strong enough to seek protection and relief
If you want, I can also create:
📄 DV Complaint Draft
📝 Affidavit Format
📑 Court-ready Petition Format