No domestic relationship renders proceedings under the Domestic Violence Act non-maintainable.

JUDGMENT

Dated this the 3^rd day of February, 2026 The 2^nd respondent in M.C.No.11/2022 on the file of Grama Nyayalaya, Mathilakam, Thrissur, filed this petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, praying for quashing Ext.P1 petition as against the petitioner and also to set aside Ext.P2 order passed against her by the Grama Nyayalaya, Mathilakam, Thrissur.

2. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner, the petitioner is not residing along with respondents 2 to 5 in any shared household and also that there is no domestic relationship between them. In the above circumstances, according to the learned counsel, Ext.P1 petition filed under Section 12 of the Domestic Violence Act is not maintainable as against the petitioner. Therefore, he prayed for quashing Ext.P1 and Ext.P2 as against the petitioner herein.

3. The petition was strongly opposed by the learned counsel for respondents 2 to 4.

4. The learned counsel would argue that there is illicit relationship between the petitioner and the 5^th respondent and the same is causing much hardships and inconvenience to the peaceful living of respondents 2 to 4.

5. Admittedly, the petitioner herein is residing not along with respondents 2 to 5. At the time of arguments it is revealed that the 5^th respondent is a guide of the petitioner herein. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner, the petitioner has relationship with the 5^th respondent only as a research fellow and guide and according to him there is no other relationship between them as alleged by the petitioner.

6. Admittedly, the petitioner herein is not residing along with respondents 2 to 5 in a shared household. Moreover, there is no domestic relationship between them. In the above circumstances, the 2^nd respondent cannot claim any relief against the petitioner herein under the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act. If so, the proceedings as against the petitioner herein raised as per Ext.P1 petition is liable to be quashed. Further, Ext.P2 order passed against the petitioner is also liable to be set aside.

In the result, this OP(Crl) is allowed. All further proceedings against the petitioner in M.C.No.11/2022 on the file of Grama Nyayalaya, Mathilakam, Thrissur, and Ext.P2 order passed against her are set aside.

Sd/-