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2017 Supreme(Ori) 131

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA: CUTTACK
B.K. NAYAK, J.
Ganesh Moharana and others - Petitioners
Versus
Sabitri Moharana - Opposite Party
CRLMC No. 3351 of 2016
Decided On : 05-01-2017

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioners: Prafulla Kumar Jena, B.B. Behera, P. Rout
For the Opposite Party : Rabindra Kumar Prusty, D. Das, H.L. Jena

Headnote:PROTECTION OF WOMEN FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT, 2005 - Sec. 31(1) - Cognizance under - Quashing of - Offence under the section is limited to the breach of interim or final protection order by the respondent - It does not specifically include within its fold the breach of order of maintenance or accommodation - Protection order is envisaged u/s. 18 of the Act - Action of the Respondents as alleged in the complaint filed amounts to violation of interim protection order, cognizance has rightly been taken against the Respondents i.e. petitioner Nos. 1 and 2 - Petitioner Nos. 3 and 4 are not parties to the original proceeding filed by the O.P. under the Act and there was no protection order against them - They cannot be said to have violated the protection order as Respondents - Held, taking cognizance of offence under the section and directing issuance of summons to them is illegal and unsustainable - Issuance of process against petitioner Nos. 3 and 4 quashed.

       

Judgement Key Points

Key Points: - Protection order includes prohibition to commit domestic violence which includes refusal to access resources or facilities including access to the shared household (!) . - Offence under Section 31(1) is limited to breach of interim or final protection order by the respondent (!) . - Cognizance under Section 31(1) can only be taken against respondents in the proceeding who commit the breach (!) . - Petitioner Nos. 3 and 4 were not parties to the original proceeding and had no protection order against them (!) . - Taking cognizance of offence and directing issuance of summons to petitioner Nos. 3 and 4 is illegal and unsustainable (!) . - The allegations of preventing accommodation and accessing shared household amount to violation of interim protection order (!) . - Petition is allowed in part and order against petitioner Nos. 3 and 4 is quashed (!) .

What is the scope of "protection order" under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005?

What are the conditions for taking cognizance of an offence under Section 31(1) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005?

What is the legal position regarding persons who are not parties to the original domestic violence proceeding when cognizance is taken against them?


ORDER :

Heard learned Counsel for the parties and perused the case record.

2. Petitioners have filed this application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. challenging the order dated 16.02.2016 passed by the learned S.D.J.M. (Sadar, Cuttack in I.C.C. Case No. 119 of 2016 taking cognisance of offence under Section 31(1) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (in short 'PWDV Act') and directing issuance of summons to the petitioners.

3. Opposite Party has initiated a proceeding claiming several reliefs under the provisions of the PWDV Act in the Court of learned SDJM (Sadar), Cuttack, which has been registered as CRLMC No. 304 of 2015. She had also filed applications for some interim reliefs, which were considered and disposed of by order dated 05.01.2016 whereby learned SDJM directed the husband (Petitioner No.1) to pay a sum of Rs.10,000/- per month towards maintenance of Opposite Party and her minor son. The order further directed the respondents therein to provide separate accommodation to the Opposite Party and her minor son in the shared household. Similarly, interim order was also passed directing the respondents therein not to commit, aid, or abet the commission of any sort of domestic violence to the aggrieved person.

4. It is admitted at the Bar that the order dated 05.01.2016 passed by the learned SDJM, Cuttack was challenged by petitioner Nos.1 and 2 in Criminal Appeal No.04 of 2016 before the learned 2nd Additional Sessions Judge, Cuttack and that appeal having been dismissed the order of the learned SDJM, has become final and conclusive.

5. Subsequently, the Opposite Party filed a complaint alleging that as per the interim order passed on 05.01.2016 by the learned S.D.J.M., Sadar, Cuttack directing the respondents to provide her accommodation in the shared household, she went with the minor son, but the petitioners and other family members opposed and refused to let her stay there. Even the efforts of IIC, Mangalabag Police Station to get her accommodation in the shared household proved abortive, which has been communicated by the IIC, Mangalabag Police Station to the learned SDJM. The further allegation is that Opposite Party again went to the shared household on 08.01.2016 with her belongings and being prevented by the petitioners, she kept all her articles in the garage of the shared household, but the accused persons forcibly locked the garage and prevented her from taking back her belongings from garage. Again on 13.01.2016, Opposite Party accompanied by her brother went to the matrimonial home to stay as per the Court's order but the accused persons drove her away and her brother without allowing them to take back her belongings from the garage and the petitioners even assaulted the brother of the Opposite Party.

6. By the impugned order dated 16.02.2016, the learned S.D.J.M., Sadar, Cuttack took cognizance of the offence under Section 31(1) of PWDV Act against all the petitioners. Subsequently the accused persons filed a petition before the learned SDJM for recall of the cognizance order, which was also rejected.

7. In the aforesaid circumstances, it is contended by the learned Counsel for the petitioners that offence under Section 31(1) of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 Act is limited only to violation of final or interim protection order and not violation of order for residence or accommodation. Secondly, it is submitted that petitioner Nos. 3 and 4 are not parties to the domestic violence proceeding and, therefore, they cannot be prosecuted for offence under Section 31(1) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.

Learned Counsel for the Opposite Party, on the other hand, submits that the order dated 05.01.2016 was not only an interim order in respect of maintenance and accommodation, but it was also directed internally to the respondents not to commit or aid or abet the commission of any short of domestic violence to the Opposite Party. He also submits that a pro






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