If you're facing domestic violence specifically from your maternal family — meaning your own natal family (parents, siblings, or other blood relatives), as distinct from your husband's family — understanding whether and how the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (PWDVA) applies here requires looking carefully at one specific legal threshold, since this Act's applicability depends fundamentally on the existence of a qualifying "domestic relationship."

Under Section 2(f) of the PWDVA, a "domestic relationship" is defined as a relationship between two persons who live or have lived together in a shared household, when related by consanguinity, marriage, or a relationship in the nature of marriage, adoption, or are family members living together as a joint family. This definition is actually broader than many people realize — it's not limited only to husband-wife or in-law relationships; it specifically extends to relationships between family members generally, including parent-child, sibling, and other blood relationships, provided the shared household element is satisfied. This means if you've been living with your maternal family — whether you returned to your parental home after a marital breakdown, never left, or are currently residing there for any reason — and you're facing violence from parents, siblings, or other relatives within that household, the PWDVA's protective remedies genuinely apply to your situation, and the "respondent" (the person against whom relief is sought) under Section 2(q) specifically includes any relative of the aggrieved person in a domestic relationship, not merely relatives connected through marriage.

Given this, you have the full range of PWDVA remedies available, discussed extensively in earlier responses throughout our conversation: filing an application under Section 12 either directly before the Magistrate or through a Protection Officer (appointed in every district specifically to assist), seeking a protection order under Section 18 restraining specific family members from committing further violence or contacting you in a threatening manner, a residence order under Section 19 ensuring your right to continue residing in the shared household (which is particularly important here, since as a daughter, you may face pressure or attempts to force you out of your natal home, and this provision specifically protects your right to remain, even against family members who may claim the property is "theirs" and try to exclude you), monetary relief under Section 20 covering medical expenses and loss of earnings if applicable, and compensation under Section 22 for the injury, including mental trauma, this violence has caused you.

The procedure follows what's discussed in the earlier comprehensive response on domestic violence case procedure — filing your Domestic Incident Report with a Protection Officer or directly approaching the Magistrate, with the first hearing required within three days and the overall inquiry expected to conclude within sixty days given the Act's fast-track design, reflecting the recognized urgency domestic violence situations require regardless of whether the perpetrators are in-laws or your own natal family members.

Beyond the PWDVA's specific civil protective framework, the same underlying conduct can simultaneously support criminal remedies depending on its specific nature. If there's been physical violence, this falls under Section 115 (voluntarily causing hurt) or Section 117 (grievous hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, depending on severity. If there have been threats, Section 351 BNS (criminal intimidation) applies. If the violence or harassment has a specific pattern connected to demands (for property, money, or compliance with some family decision you're resisting), this could additionally support an extortion analysis under Section 308 BNS if genuine coercive demands are involved. It's worth understanding that unlike Section 498A, which is specifically limited to cruelty by a husband or his relatives, these general criminal provisions apply regardless of the specific family relationship involved, meaning violence from your parents or siblings is just as criminally actionable as violence from any other person, and you shouldn't feel that the law treats natal family violence as somehow less serious or less actionable than in-law violence.

It's worth being sensitive to a particular emotional and practical complexity that often accompanies domestic violence within one's own natal family specifically — unlike violence from in-laws, where family support from your own side is typically available to help you navigate the legal process, violence from your own parents or siblings can leave you feeling considerably more isolated, without the family backing many domestic violence survivors rely on, and this is precisely why the Protection Officer system and District Legal Services Authority (discussed in earlier responses regarding free legal aid) become particularly important resources for you specifically, since these provide institutional support and guidance independent of family networks that may not be available to you in this particular situation.

Your practical first steps: if you're in immediate danger, prioritize your physical safety, including seeking shelter through a women's shelter home if needed (which Protection Officers can help arrange), and document whatever evidence you can of the violence or threats (photographs of any injuries, messages, witness accounts from anyone who may have observed the treatment, even neighbours or extended family who aren't directly involved). Approach your local Protection Officer or directly file your PWDVA application before the Magistrate, and simultaneously, if there's been any specific criminal act (physical assault, threats), file an FIR, since pursuing both the civil protective remedy and the criminal complaint together gives you the most comprehensive protection.

Conclusion: Yes, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 does apply to violence from your maternal family, since the Act's definition of domestic relationship and respondent specifically extends to blood relatives sharing a household with you, not merely in-laws, giving you access to the full range of protection, residence, monetary, and compensation orders discussed throughout our conversation, alongside parallel criminal remedies under Section 115/117 (hurt) and Section 351 (intimidation) BNS depending on the specific conduct — given the particular isolation that violence from one's own natal family can create, actively utilizing Protection Officer support and free legal aid through your District Legal Services Authority is especially valuable in your situation. You can reach out to the team at Aapka Legal Advice for urgent, confidential guidance on pursuing these remedies, and this list of Top Criminal Lawyers in India | Aapka Legal Advice can help you find suitable representation to protect your safety and rights.