Cases of domestic violence were often reported to women’s organizations. Some of the organizations started to raise the need for a new law on domestic violence. In 1999, Lawyers Collective, a group of lawyers, law students and activists took the initiative of drafting the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill; after nation-wide consultations. The draft was widely circulated among influential people. The bill was introduced in Parliament in 2002. But the bill did not contain many of the suggestions from women’s organizations. After that, many organizations for women made submissions to the Parliamentary Standing Committee; so that a new law could be passed. The Standing Committee submitted its recommendations to the Rajya Sabha; in 2002. The recommendations were also tabled in the Lok Sabha. Finally, the new bill was introduced in the Parliament in 2005. After the assent from the President, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act came into effect in 2006.
