The Delhi High Court has ruled that a father-in-law cannot be held liable under the Domestic Violence Act solely for failing to control his adult son's conduct. The court clarified that the Act requires specific acts of physical or mental harm, and a mere domestic relationship or commercial dispute is insufficient to invoke it without evidence of denial of protected resources or concrete abuse.
National Commission for Women chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar urged protection officers to prioritise "first response" in domestic violence cases, emphasising sensitive handling and immediate intervention to prevent tragedies. She highlighted that the success of protection officers lies in timely protection for women, not just file processing. Rahatkar stressed the importance of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, and called for a comprehensive "One Woman, One Support System" approach involving various services, continuous training, and prevention through awareness and empowerment.
Explaining the definition of 'respondent' given in the Section 2 (g) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, the court said: "The respondent should be a male person and he should not be a minor. The respondent can only be an adult male person."
Aditi Sharma has filed a domestic violence complaint against her husband and in-laws, detailing allegations of physical and mental harassment, assault, verbal abuse, character defamation, and the misuse of her valuable stridhan.
Save Family Foundation and My Nation is one such cell, which feels that the act should be abolished.
However, the police in the capital are awaiting a full report.
The Bombay high court on Thursday issued a notice to the attorney general of India seeking the Union government's reply on a petition challenging constitutional validity of a section of the Domestic Violence Act, which allows cases to be filed only against male members.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Rajesh Bindal admitted the appeal filed against the Bombay high court order for hearing in 2025 and asked the counsel for the husband and his estranged wife to complete their pleadings by then.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognisance of a report regarding a woman's alleged suicide in Maharashtra due to prolonged domestic violence, directing the state police chief to ensure the immediate arrest of the accused and a thorough investigation.
The apex court delivered its verdict on an appeal filed by a woman challenging an order of the Karnataka high court in a matter related to the grant of maintenance and compensation.
The Allahabad High Court has quashed a magistrate court's order rejecting a woman's plea for her husband's income and property details in a domestic violence case, ordering a fresh review and emphasising the importance of income disclosure in such cases.
A woman in Khammam district allegedly died by suicide due to domestic violence by her husband. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death, including allegations of abuse and an illicit affair.
The Supreme Court of India has ruled that family members of an accused in domestic violence cases cannot be implicated without specific charges. The court emphasized the need for sensitivity in handling such cases, noting that emotions run high in matrimonial disputes and there may be a tendency to indiscriminately implicate family members. The court stressed that criminalizing domestic disputes without specific allegations and credible evidence could have disastrous consequences for the institution of family.
A family court in Mumbai has ordered NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde to pay interim maintenance of Rs 2 lakh per month to his estranged wife Karuna and their daughter. The court denied maintenance for their son, considering him an adult. Munde's lawyer clarified that the court has not reached a final conclusion in the domestic violence case, and the interim maintenance order is based on financial considerations. Karuna Sharma, Munde's estranged wife, plans to challenge the order in the high court as she believes the amount is insufficient.
Uttarakhand Minister Rekha Arya has vehemently denied corruption allegations made by her husband, Girdhari Lal Sahu, calling them "100 per cent baseless." Sahu accused her of possessing illegal assets worth Rs 210 crore after Arya filed a complaint against him for domestic violence, harassment, and caste-based slurs. Arya asserted her life is transparent and welcomed any investigation, while also defending her decision to speak out against domestic violence.
A newly-wed woman in Keralam has filed a complaint against her husband and in-laws, accusing them of dowry harassment and physical assault. She alleges brutal attacks in Saudi Arabia, where her husband works, and in Keralam, leading to a police investigation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Dowry Prohibition Act.
The Delhi High Court has ruled that live-in relationships between consenting adults are akin to marriage, granting police protection to a couple facing threats. The court emphasised that fundamental rights to choose a partner cannot be curtailed by societal prejudices, reinforcing the legal sanctity of such relationships.
The Allahabad High Court has issued a strong warning against routinely converting distressed or failed marriages into criminal cases, stating that such a practice could fundamentally affect the institution of marriage. The court quashed an FIR alleging dowry harassment and assault in a case involving a brief period of cohabitation, emphasising that criminal proceedings should not be a substitute for matrimonial court adjudication.
A woman, her son, and daughter were arrested in Odisha's Kendrapara district for allegedly murdering the husband, who was an alcoholic and frequently assaulted his family. The trio reportedly strangled him to death after he attacked his wife on Wednesday night.
In a judgement that expands the ambit of the Domestic Violance Act, the Delhi High Court has held that the law protects not only a man's wife but also a mistress or a live-in partner.The bench passed the judgement on a petition filed by a man for quashing criminal proceedings against him on the complaint filed by his live-in partner."Like treatment to both (wives and mistress) does not, in any manner, derogate from the sanctity of marriage," the bench said.
A contestant on Bigg Boss 10, Akanksha alleged that Yuvraj and his family caused her "mental and financial torture", ANI reported on Wednesday.
The Supreme Court on Monday said criminal law cannot be permitted to be set in motion against every relative of the husband in a matrimonial dispute merely on the basis of omnibus allegations lacking a specific factual foundation.
A Delhi court has upheld an interim maintenance order, directing a man to pay Rs 7,500 per month to his estranged wife and minor daughter in a domestic violence case.
Top US lawmakers, leaders, and civil society members have strongly condemned an alleged plot to attack a Hindu temple in Illinois. Alexandros Paporakis, 19, was arrested for attempting a mass shooting at the Aurora temple, which failed when his rifle jammed. Indian-American Congressmen and other officials have called for efforts to combat rising anti-Indian and anti-Hindu prejudice in America, highlighting the need to protect minority houses of worship.
The Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of a man convicted of sexually assaulting and strangling his six-year-old step-daughter to life imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life. The court affirmed his conviction but cited mitigating circumstances and the state's failure to exclude the possibility of his reformation, while also highlighting issues with the trial court's sentencing procedure.
South African jurist Navanethem 'Navi' Pillay, of Indian origin, has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her lifelong dedication to advancing human rights, peace, and international law, including her significant contributions to shaping international law on genocide and sexual violence.
The Kerala high court has delivered a landmark judgment, empowering Christian women in India to file for divorce from their current place of residence, thereby removing a significant procedural hurdle and ensuring equal access to justice.
The Delhi High Court has ruled that merely asking a married woman to assist in caring for a family member does not constitute cruelty under criminal law, quashing cases against a husband and his family.
Official data reveals that Delhi recorded 141 dowry death cases in 2021, the highest in five years, with a subsequent gradual decline. The COVID-19 pandemic is cited as a factor exacerbating domestic tensions. Cases of cruelty by husband or relatives under Section 498A also show significant numbers, alongside efforts to strengthen prosecution and increase awareness.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif repeatedly refused to answer reporters' questions regarding Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed during his visit to the United Nations headquarters for the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
A 31-year-old man, Yuvraj Singh Manchanda, was found murdered in a Gurugram drain, allegedly over a financial dispute. His family claims Gurugram police recovered and cremated his body without informing them, despite him being reported missing in Delhi. Two former colleagues have been arrested in connection with the murder.
The disappearance of 31-year-old Yuvraj Singh Manchanda, weeks before his wedding, led to his alleged murder and the discovery of his body in a Gurugram drain. His family alleges that Gurugram Police recovered and cremated his body without informing them, learning about it only during the Delhi Police investigation into his disappearance. Two former colleagues have been arrested in connection with the murder, allegedly due to a financial dispute.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh, the husband and mother-in-law of former actor Twisha Sharma, alleging that their mental cruelty drove her to suicide.
The Allahabad High Court has ruled that a husband's obligation to pay maintenance to his wife and children continues even after serving a jail term for non-payment, clarifying that imprisonment does not erase the debt.
The Supreme Court has directed the Delhi government to assess the well-being of a child in a disputed paternity case, ensuring access to basic necessities and a minimum standard of living.
A Reddit post about a hidden camera in a shared living room has reopened an old question -- how far can a landlord interfere in a home he no longer fully controls? Here's what two Mumbai lawyers have to say.
A court in Bhopal has remanded Samarth Singh, the husband of deceased model-actor Twisha Sharma, to CBI custody as the agency takes over the investigation into her death.
Actor Celina Jaitly has filed a domestic violence complaint in a local court in Mumbai alleging that she has suffered severe emotional, physical, sexual and verbal abuse at the hands of her Austrian husband Peter Haag.
From Filhaal to Daayra, we look at Meghna Gulzar's filmmaking journey, including the highs of Talvar and Raazi and the films that fell short.
