In Brief
This landmark Supreme Court decision addresses whether women forced to leave their matrimonial homes due to cruelty can file criminal complaints in courts where they take shelter with parents, even without overt acts of cruelty at the parental home. The Court held that mental trauma and psychological effects continuing at the parental home—caused by physical cruelty and abuse at the matrimonial home—constitute ongoing cruelty under Section 498A IPC. Courts at the parental home have jurisdiction to entertain such complaints under Section 179 CrPC (based on consequences of the criminal act). This decision strengthens women's access to justice by recognizing the persistent nature of domestic violence trauma."
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