Denying Residence to Brother's Wife in Shared Household is Domestic Violence: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court has held that denying a woman the right to reside in a "shared household" by her in-laws, including a brother-in-law, amounts to domestic violence under the Domestic Violence Act, 2005.

Justice Urmila Joshi-Phalke ruled in a case where a man barred his brother’s widow and her son from accessing a house they had previously lived in.

The court clarified that the right applies regardless of ownership or title and includes past cohabitation.

Denying access to such a shelter was termed “economic abuse,” recognizing it as a form of domestic violence.

[Ashish Chandrakant Chauhan v. Mohini Mukesh Chauhan & Anr.]