The Karnataka High Court has quashed domestic violence proceedings against a woman’s elderly parents-in-law, holding that, in the absence of specific allegations of domestic violence against them, continuing the case would be an abuse of process. The Court, however, allowed the proceedings and an order of Rs 7,000 monthly interim maintenance to continue against the husband, finding sufficient material and that the wife was unable to maintain herself.
The Madras High Court held that Section 498A proceedings cannot be initiated merely because a marriage has broken down or because the accused are related to the spouses involved in the dispute. Quashing proceedings against the husband’s relatives, the Court said vague and omnibus allegations cannot be used to drag family members into matrimonial disputes.
