#DV Act

The Supreme Court quashed domestic violence proceedings filed after a ₹89 lakh mediated settlement, ruling that post-settlement litigation constitutes abuse of process. Invoking Article 142, the Court dissolved the marriage on grounds of irretrievable breakdown, even in the absence of statutory divorce grounds, setting a precedent for similar disputes.

MP High Court sets aside an appellate order enhancing interim maintenance from ₹11,000 to ₹30,000, ruling that appellate courts must provide a discernible rationale under the DV Act. The decision reinforces natural justice principles in maintenance proceedings, impacting aggrieved parties and legal practitioners.

Telangana High Court rules that continuation of Domestic Violence Act proceedings after quashing of parallel IPC charges under Sections 498-A and 506 constitutes judicial abuse, reinforcing the principle of finality in litigation and protecting accused from harassment through multiplicity of proceedings. The ruling clarifies that quashing of criminal charges under Section 482 BNSS (formerly CrPC) extinguishes ancillary DV Act complaints where the factual matrix overlaps.

The Bombay High Court mandates that maintenance awarded under Section 125 CrPC and the Domestic Violence Act must be offset against each other to avoid unjust enrichment, ensuring the wife’s standard of living is preserved without duplicative financial burden on the husband. This ruling establishes a binding precedent for family courts across Maharashtra to harmonize concurrent maintenance orders under both statutes.

Bombay High Court holds that a wife's employment does not automatically disqualify her from interim maintenance under the DV Act if her income is insufficient to meet basic needs.

Bombay High Court upholds DV Act relief granted ex parte where husband failed to contest allegations of domestic violence, affirming that unchallenged evidence suffices for protection.