Answer:

The intent of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA), 2005 was to safeguard women from domestic violence or harassment by an adult male. Under Section 2(q) of the Act, a complaint could be made only against an “adult male person.”

Recently, in the Hiral Harsora v. Kusum Harsora case, the Supreme Court struck down the words “adult male” and made the section 2(q) gender neutral. Now, a woman can file a domestic violence complaint and seek legal action against other women and minors.