In a landmark decision, the Allahabad High Court has expanded the ambit of the Domestic Violence Act, 2005, by recognizing a mother-in-law as an “aggrieved person” entitled to seek protection against abuse by her daughter-in-law.
The Karnataka High Court dismissed a daughter-in-law’s petition for compassionate appointment in the state’s Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, as she was excluded from the definition of ‘family’ in the relevant rules. The Court emphasized that it’s not their role to broaden statutory definitions and upheld the legislative intent behind the rules.
The Allahabad High Court ruled that a widowed daughter-in-law is not obligated to reside in her matrimonial home to claim maintenance from her father-in-law under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956. The court emphasized societal and cultural norms influencing a widow’s choice of residence and recognized the right to claim maintenance regardless of living arrangements.
