Yes, financial control or denial of money is recognized as a form of domestic violence under Indian law.
According to the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA), economic abuse is explicitly included as a type of domestic violence. This law provides protection to women from various forms of abuse in a domestic relationship, including physical, emotional, sexual, and economic abuse.
What is economic abuse under the Act?
Section 3 of the PWDVA defines economic abuse to include:
Denial of financial resources or money to the woman
Not providing the necessary household necessities
Preventing the woman from accessing her own money, bank account, or property
Disposing of household assets or valuables without her knowledge or consent
Not allowing her to work or earn a livelihood
Forcing her to hand over her income or earnings
Examples of financial control as domestic violence:
A husband or partner refusing to give money for food, medicine, or children's needs
Taking away a woman’s salary or not allowing her to spend her own money
Threatening to stop financial support if she does not obey certain demands
Selling her jewelry or property without consent
Forcing her to leave her job or profession against her will
Legal remedy:
Under the PWDVA, a woman facing economic abuse can approach the court through a Protection Officer or directly with the help of a lawyer. The court can:
Order monetary relief
Direct the respondent to provide for the victim's and children’s expenses
Restrict the disposal of assets or bank accounts
Grant protection orders and residence orders
Conclusion:
Yes, denial of money, control over finances, or restricting access to economic resources is domestic violence under Indian law. Economic abuse is a serious and punishable form of abuse, and the law provides protective and monetary remedies for women facing such situations.
Yes, section 3 of the Protection of Woman from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA) defines various types of domestic abuse, and one of the key domestic abuse under this Act is economic abuse.
Economic abuse includes:
Deprivation of resources: Not giving her money or property she deserves under any law or custom, or which she needs for daily life, like Household items, her stridhan (jewels, gifts etc.), property in her name, rent for the shared home, maintenance ordered by court.
Selling or taking away property: Selling, hiding, or misusing her household things, movable/immovable assets like land, house, jewellery, etc., shares, bonds, securities, any other property she owns or uses due to the relationship
Restricting access to facilities: Stopping her from using basic facilities and resources she is entitled to such as shared household or utilities.
Economic abuse is not just about money. It's about controlling her financial freedom, taking away her rights, or stopping her from living with dignity.
Dear Client,
Yes, section 3 of the Protection of Woman from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA) defines various types of domestic abuse, and one of the key domestic abuse under this Act is economic abuse.
Economic abuse includes:
Deprivation of resources: Not giving her money or property she deserves under any law or custom, or which she needs for daily life, like Household items, her stridhan (jewels, gifts etc.), property in her name, rent for the shared home, maintenance ordered by court.
Selling or taking away property: Selling, hiding, or misusing her household things, movable/immovable assets like land, house, jewelry, etc., shares, bonds, securities, any other property she owns or uses due to the relationship
Restricting access to facilities: Stopping her from using basic facilities and resources she is entitled to such as shared household or utilities.
Economic abuse is not just about money. It's about controlling her financial freedom, taking away her rights, or stopping her from living with dignity.
I hope this answer helps. In case of future queries, please feel free to contact us. Thank you.
