The Magistrate may, after giving the aggrieved person and the respondent an opportunity of being heard and on being prima facie satisfied that domestic violence has taken place or is likely to take place, pass a protection order in favour of the aggrieved person and prohibit the respondent from—
(a) committing any act of domestic violence;
(b) aiding or abetting in the commission of acts of domestic violence;
(c) entering the place of employment of the aggrieved person or, if the person aggrieved is a child, its school or any other place frequented by the aggrieved person;
(d) attempting to communicate in any form, whatsoever, with the aggrieved person, including personal, oral or written or electronic or telephonic contact;
(e) alienating any assets, operating bank lockers or bank accounts used or held or enjoyed by both the parties, jointly by the aggrieved person and the respondent or singly by the respondent, including her stridhan or any other property held either jointly by the parties or separately by them without the leave of the Magistrate;
(f) causing violence to the dependants, other relatives or any person who give the aggrieved person assistance from domestic violence;
(g) committing any other act as specified in the protection order.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 18
Section 18 empowers the Magistrate to pass comprehensive Protection Orders prohibiting the respondent from committing acts of domestic violence, entering the victim's workplace, or communicating with her.
Breach of a protection order under Section 18 triggers immediate criminal liability under Section 31, providing an enforceable judicial shield for victims of domestic violence.
Section 18 operates as a customized statutory injunction backed by criminal sanctions. Unlike civil court injunctions that require tedious contempt applications, a violation of a Section 18 protection order immediately transforms into a cognizable, non-bailable criminal offence punishable with jail time under Section 31.