IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
R. N. MISRA, J.
MILAN KUMAR SINGH - Appellant
Versus
STATE OF U.P. - Respondents
Crl. M. Appln 15669 Of 2007
Decided On : 07/18/2007
Domestic Violence - Protection of Women - Sections 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22 - The court discussed the provisions of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, particularly focusing on the compliance of Rule 6 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Rules, 2006 and the procedure for filing an application to the Magistrate. The court emphasized that the intention of the legislature was to facilitate the filing of complaints and that the absence of strict compliance with the prescribed form should not render a complaint invalid. The court also clarified that an aggrieved person can file a complaint directly to the Magistrate, with the option to approach the Protection Officer or service provider, and highlighted the significance of the affidavit in supporting the complaint.
Fact of the Case:
The applicants sought quashing and stay of proceedings in a criminal case under Sections 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, based on a complaint filed by the opposite party. The applicants argued non-compliance with Rule 6 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Rules, 2006 and the procedure for filing an application to the Magistrate.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the absence of strict compliance with the prescribed form should not render a complaint invalid, and clarified that an aggrieved person can file a complaint directly to the Magistrate, with the option to approach the Protection Officer or service provider. The court emphasized the significance of the affidavit in supporting the complaint.
Issues: Compliance with Rule 6 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Rules, 2006, and the procedure for filing an application to the Magistrate.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that the intention of the legislature was to facilitate the filing of complaints and that the absence of strict compliance with the prescribed form should not render a complaint invalid. The court also clarified that an aggrieved person can file a complaint directly to the Magistrate, with the option to approach the Protection Officer or service provider, and highlighted the significance of the affidavit in supporting the complaint.
Final Decision: The application under Section 482, Cr. P. C. was deemed devoid of merits and dismissed by the court.
( 2 ) HEARD learned counsel for the applicants and learned A. G. A.
( 3 ) IT appears from the record that the opposite party No. 2 has been married with applicant No. 1. The applicant No. 2 is the father-in-law of opposite party No. 2. Some matrimonial disputes are going on between the parties and beside this complaint, some other criminal proceedings are also going on. Learned counsel for the applicants has placed before me a few legal points. According to him, there is no compliance of Rule 6 of the Protection of Women from Domestic violence Rules, 2006 (hereinafter referred to as the Rules ). According to these Rules, the complaint must be filed in Form II given in the Rules. He has argued that without compliance of Rule 6, the complaint cannot be entertained by the Magistrate. Rule 6 of the said Rules is qyoted below:
Rule 6 : Application to the Magistrate - (1) Every application of the aggrieved person under Section 12 shall be in Form II or as nearly as possible thereto. (2) An aggrieved person may seek the assistance of the Protection Officer in preparing her application under sub-rule (1) and forwarding the same to the concerned Magistrate. (3) In case the aggrieved person is illiterate, the Protection Officer shall read over the application and explain to her the contents thereof. (4) The affidavit to be filed under sub-section (2) of Section 23 shall be filed in Form iii. (5) The applications under section 12 shall be dealt with and the orders enforced in the same manner laid down under section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)"
( 4 ) SECTION 12 (3) of said Act also provides procedure for filing application under subsection (1) which runs as under : 12 (3) - Every application under sub-section (1) shall be in such form and contain such particulars as may be prescribed or as nearly as possible thereto. "
( 5 ) THOUGH, learned counsel for the applicants has given a good reasoning in support of his argument, but I see no force in this contention. The words "as nearly as possible thereto" appeared in Section 12 (3)of the Act and Rule 6 both. This is the social legislation and purpose of the Act is not to create hurdle before the aggrieved person in filing the complaint, but Form has been prescribed in the Rules, only to facilitate filing of complaint so that it may contain all necessary particulars for decision of the case. If any complaint is drafted in such a manner with all necessary particulars and usual information required by prescribed form are contained therein, that cannot be said to be a bad complaint in the eye of law. The Form prescribed by the Act is nothing else, but proper forum and facility given to the complainant for placing all relevant facts before the court concerned. The Legislature was very much aware of this fact, that is why both in Section 12 and Rule 6, the words "as nearly as possible thereto" have been mentioned. The intention of the Legislature was not at all to reject the complaint for not filing in prescribed Form II.
( 6 ) THE next point, which has been vehemently argued by learned counsel for the applicants is that the complaint cannot be filed directly to the Magistrate, but it should be filed before the Protection Officer as defined in section 2 (n) of the Act and on receiving the complaint, the Protection Officer will submit Domestic Incident Report and then the Magistrate will take cognizance of the m
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