{"id":2968,"date":"2026-08-24T16:42:29","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T16:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawbot.in\/blogs\/?p=2968"},"modified":"2026-08-24T16:42:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T16:42:31","slug":"section-22-domestic-violence-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawbot.in\/blogs\/section-22-domestic-violence-act\/","title":{"rendered":"Section 22 of the Domestic Violence Act: Compensation Orders Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Beyond stopping ongoing abuse, the PWDVA also lets a woman seek compensation for the harm already done<\/strong> \u2014 including psychological injury, not just physical or financial loss. That’s what Section 22 provides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Considering a compensation claim alongside other relief?<\/strong> Ask LawBot \u2192<\/a> \u2014 get clarity on what you can claim.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What Section 22 Says<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In addition to any other reliefs granted under the Act, the Magistrate may \u2014 on the aggrieved person’s application \u2014 pass an order directing the respondent to pay compensation and damages<\/strong> for the injuries, including mental torture and emotional distress<\/strong>, caused by the domestic violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Makes This Different From Section 20 (Monetary Relief)?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is a common point of confusion, so it’s worth being precise:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/th>Section 20 (Monetary Relief)<\/th>Section 22 (Compensation)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Purpose<\/td>Covers actual losses\/expenses \u2014 medical bills, loss of earnings, maintenance<\/td>Compensates for injury and suffering \u2014 including mental\/emotional harm<\/td><\/tr>
Nature<\/td>More restorative \u2014 putting her back where she’d have been financially<\/td>More compensatory for the wrong itself<\/td><\/tr>
Can overlap?<\/td>Yes \u2014 both can be sought together in the same Section 12 application<\/td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In practice, courts often consider these together, but Section 22 specifically opens the door to compensation for psychological and emotional injury<\/strong>, which is significant \u2014 many legal systems historically struggled to properly compensate non-physical harm, and this provision explicitly recognizes it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Can Be Claimed Under Section 22?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n