IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
Honourable Mr.Justice S. SOUNTHAR
R. RAMAKRISHNAN – Appellant
Versus
SUBHA – Respondent
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 27.11.2025 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.SOUNTHAR and C.M.P.No.18334 & 18336 of 2025 R.Ramakrishnan S/o.V.Raghupathi ... Petitioner vs.
Subha, W/o.Ramakrishnan ... Respondent PRAYER: Civil Revision Petition is filed under Article 227 of Constitution of India, to struck off the entire proceedings initiated against the petitioner in D.V.C.No.5 of 2021 on the file of the Court of Judicial Magistrate -I, Poonamallee.
For Petitioner : Mr.N.U.Pressanna
ORDER
This Civil Revision Petition is filed seeking to strike off the complaint preferred by the respondent against the petitioner under the provisions of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 pending on the file of the Judicial Magistrate -I, Poonamallee.
2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the respondent has preferred a complaint against the petitioner based on bald and illegal allegations. The averments made in the complaint are not sufficient to invoke the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act.
3. The Full Bench of this Court in the case of Arul Daniel and Others Versus Suganya reported in (2022) SCC Online Mad 5435 held that any person aggrieved by the process issued by the Judicial Magistrate can go before the very same Judicial Magistrate and raise preliminary objections with regard to the issues like existence of a shared household/domestic relationship etc. If any order is passed, the aggrieved person can also take recourse to an appeal under Section 29 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. The relevant portion reads as follows:-
“87(vii). As there is no issuance of process as contemplated under Section 204, Cr.P.C. in a proceeding under the D.V. Act, the principle laid down in Adalat Prasad v. Rooplal Jindal ((2004) 7 SCC 338) that a process, under Section 204, Cr.P.C, once issued cannot be reviewed or recalled, will not apply to a proceeding under the D.V. Act. Consequently, it would be open to an aggrieved respondent (s) to approach the Magistrate and raise the issue of maintainability and other preliminary issues. Issues like the existence of a shared household/domestic relationship etc., which form the jurisdictional basis for entertaining an application under Section 12, can be determined as a preliminary issue, in appropriate cases. Any person aggrieved by such an order may also take recourse to an appeal under Section 29 of the D.V. Act for effective redress (See V.K. Vijayalekshmi Amma v. Bindu V., (2010) 87 AIC 367). This would stem the deluge of petitions challenging the maintainability of an application under Section 12 of the D.V. Act, at the threshold before this Court under Article 227 of the Constitution.”
4. In view of the categorical pronouncement of law by the Full Bench of this Court that a person aggrieved by issuance of process can very well approach the concerned Judicial Magistrate seeking to strike off the DVC complaint, this Court is not inclined to exercise its supervisory power under Article 227 of the Constitution of India as held by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Virudhunagar Nadargal Dharma Paripalana Shabha Vs Tuticorin Educational Society reported in MANU/SC/1365/2019.
5. Accordingly, the Civil Revision Petition is dismissed with liberty to the petitioner to approach the very same Judicial Magistrate seeking to strike off the DVC complaint. If any such application is filed and preliminary issue with regard to the maintainability of the petition against revision petitioner is raised, the Judicial Magistrate shall consider the same and dispose of the same as expeditiously as possible. Taking into consideration the allegations made in the complaint, the personal appearance of the petitioner is dispensed with before the learned Judicial Magistrate -I, Poonamallee, unless his personal appearance is absolutely necessary. No costs. Consequently, the connected civil miscellaneous petitions are closed.
27.11.2025 Index : Yes / No Speaki
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