Senthilkumar v. Thangamani

ORDER The Civil Revision Petition is filed seeking to quash the complaint preferred by the 1st respondent under the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act.

¶2The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the allegations contained in the complaint preferred by the 1st respondent do not satisfy the ingredients of Section 2(a) and Section 3 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and therefore the learned Magistrate ought not have issued process against the petitioner.

¶3The 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 Magistrate can go before the very same 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 Domestic Violence Act. 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."

¶4In view of the availability of alternative remedy before Magistrate, as held by Full Bench in Arul Daniel case, this Court is not inclined to exercise supervisory power under Article 227 of the Constitution of India. Further, the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Virudhunagar Nadargal Dharma Paripalana Shabha Vs Tuticorin Educational Society reported in MANU/SC/1365/2019 held that availability of alternative remedy before regular Courts, is near total bar for exercise of supervisory power by High Court. Hence, I am not inclined to interfere in revision.

¶5Accordingly, the Civil Revision petition stands dismissed with liberty to the petitioner to approach the concerned Magistrate for getting appropriate remedy in terms of order passed in Arul Daniel case cited supra.

¶6Having regard to the fact the complaint preferred under Section 12 of Domestic Violence Act is predominantly civil in nature, this Court is inclined to dispense with the personal appearance of the petitioner before the learned Magistrate unless it is absolutely necessary. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. No costs.

07.01.2026

Speaking (or) Non Speaking Order Index : Yes/ No mka To: The Judicial Magistrate, Chengam The Judicial Magistrate, Chengam

S.SOUNTHAR, J. mka

07.01.2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 07.01.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.SOUNTHAR and C.M.P. Nos.19709 and 19710 of 2023 Senthilkumar S/o.Ramamurthy, No.3, Thiagi Kumaran Street, PN Pudur, Coimbatore-10 Petitioner(s) Vs 1.Thangamani W/o.Senthilkumar, D/o.Sithagounder, Kollakottai, Nadapattu, Melravanthavadi Post, Chengam Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District. 2.Aandal W/o.Ramamurthy, Res at No.3, Thiagi Kumaran Street, PN Pudur, Coimbatore-10. 3.R. Manoharan S/o.Ramamurthy, Res at No.3, Thiagi Kumaran Street, PN Pudur, Coimbatore-10. 4.Uma W/o.R.Manoharan, Res at No.3, Thiagi Kumaran Street, PN Pudur, Coimbatore-10. Respondent(s) PRAYER: Civil Revision Petition is filed under Article 227 of Constitution of India praying to call for the records pertaining to the case pending in DVC No.13 of 2023 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate, Chengam and quash the same by allowing this revision petition. For Petitioner(s) : Mr.R.Marudhachalamurthy For Respondent(s) : Mr.V.Hemnath (for R1) No appearance (for R2 to R4)