Allahabad HC Rules on Whether a Mother-in-Law Can File a Domestic Violence Case Against Her Daughter-in-Law

The Allahabad High Court upheld the trial court's decision to issue summons to a daughter-in-law and her family members in a domestic violence case filed by the mother-in-law.

The Court referred to Section 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, stating that a mother-in-law could be considered an aggrieved person if subjected to harassment or torture by the daughter-in-law or her relatives. 

The Act applies to any woman involved in a domestic relationship within a shared household, and its provisions should be interpreted broadly.

The Court dismissed the daughter-in-law’s challenge, upholding the mother-in-law's right to file a case under the Domestic Violence Act.