ORDER

N. Anand Venkatesh, J.—The issue that falls for consideration in these batch of cases relates to the jurisdiction of the High Court to quash a complaint under Section 12 of the Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (hereinafter referred to as “D.V. Act” or “the Act”) in exercise of its inherent power under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as “Cr.P.C.” or “the Code”).

2. This Court had directed the Registry to put up a number of cases filed between 2017 and 2020, and pending, for quashing applications under Section 12 of the D.V Act. This Court was surprised to learn that over 1000 such cases were pending. The D.V Act endeavors the Magistrate to dispose an application filed under Section 12 (1) within 60 days from the date of its first hearing. However, here is a distressing scenario where the proceedings, in a majority of the cases, have come to a grinding halt without any progress for more than 3 years on account of the pendency of the petitions on the file of this Court.

3. Upon a close reading of the D.V Act, this Court found that the nature of rights that were protected and enforced under the Act were purely civil in nature. However, cons