Repeated allegations based on prior claims without new facts constitute an abuse of process in domestic violence litigation.

ORDER :

P.B.BALAJI, J.

This Civil Revision Petition has been preferred by the respondent in D.V.C.No.16 of 2020 before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Ambattur.

2. The 1^st petitioner is the husband of the respondent, the petitioners 2 and 3 are the father and mother of the 1^st petitioner and the 4^th petitioner is the sister of the 1^st petitioner and daughter of the petitioners 2 and 3.

3. The respondent/wife has filed DVC proceedings on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate, Ambattur. The petitioners who are arrayed as respondents in the said DVC proceedings have come before this Court seeking to strike off the DVC proceedings.

4. I have heard Mrs.Narmadha Sampath, learned counsel appearing for Mr.S.Kumar Sankar, learned counsel for the petitioners and Mr.Mohanethi, learned counsel appearing for the respondent.

5. Mrs.Narmadha Sampath, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that the DVC complaint is a sheer abuse of process. She would further state that in the Judicial Magistrate Court, where the proceedings are pending for dissolution of marriage, the respondent also filed a petition for interim maintenance, which was ordered by the Family Court and subsequently, modified by this Court. She would further submit that the amount that was directed by this Court to be paid has been paid by the 1^st petitioner and the 1^st petitioner continues to pay the same to the wife. However, she would submit that no new facts have been substantiated or set out in the DVC proceedings. She would further submit that the respondent has also lodged a complaint against the petitioner under Section 498A of IPC and this Court in Crl.O.P(MD).No.4812 of 2021, by order dated 14.11.2024, quashed the said complaint. The learned counsel for the petitioner would further state that no new allegations have been made, leave alone substantiated in the said DVC. She would refer to a communication of the Social Welfare Officer, which was also taken note of by this Court while quashing the criminal complaint lodged under Section 498A of IPC. She would further rely on the decision of this Court in B.Prakash Vs. Deepa & Another, reported in 2015 MWN CRI 3 161. The learned counsel for the petitioner would therefore pray for the Civil Revision Petition being allowed.

6. Per contra, Mr.Mohanethi, learned counsel for the respondent would submit that the report of the Social Welfare Officer was only pertaining to dowry harassment and not in respect of domestic violence. He would further state that the allegations that have been made in the DVC are subject matter of the trial and already proceedings are pending for divorce as well as for restitution of conjugal rights. He would further state that the respondent has been suffering for the last four years and the 1^st petitioner is only paying a meagre amount which has been revised to Rs.3,000/- by this Court. The learned counsel for the respondent would further state that the order passed in Crl.O.P(MD).No.4812 of 2021 was only as against the petitioners 2 to 4 and not against the 1^st petitioner/husband. He would therefore state that no case has been made out to strike off the DVC complaint.

7. I have carefully considered the submissions advanced by the learned counsel on either side. I have also gone through the records including the order in Crl.O.P(MD).No.4812 of 2021. I have paid my cautious consideration on the decision that has been relied on by the learned counsel for the petitioner in B.Prakash Vs. Deepa and Another reported in 2015 MWN CRI 3 161.

8. From a reading of the domestic violence complaint, I find that the allegations that have been made against the p