Book husband’s female kin for domestic violence: court

The Bombay High Court has ruled that complaint can be filed against female relatives of husband under the Domestic Violence Act.

The Bombay High Court has ruled that complaint can be filed against female relatives of husband under the Domestic Violence Act.

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Reversing a session’s court order, the high court in its direction last week, asked the magistrate to proceed with the trial against a victim’s mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

The court observed if the legislature wanted to exclude female relatives from the definition of “respondent”, it would have specifically made such provision. The victim’s complained that she was beaten up by her husband, mother-in-law and others, and was thrown out of home in June 2004.

Archana then filed a complaint with magistrate, demanding that she be allowed to live in the house owned by her mother-in-law.