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Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Retrospective Clause in DV - Strategy

Well guys the retrospectiveness of DV has been a controversial topic of late. And the law being silent about it, the judiciary uses it to its own whims and fancies most of the times which are biased against men. Alleged acts of violence committed prior to 26th Oct 2006, the day the devilish DV law came in effect, are made part of petition and cases are getting registered.
But retrospectiveness in law is a serious issue and allowing retrospective matters in admittance of cases can have serious implications. As technological advances follows Murphy’s rule, newer dangers are also getting exposed and newer legal provisions can also come into effect. What was legal now can be illegal later, so do we book all those persons who committed a hitherto legal, but hence illegal action deemed as offense? Rationally and logically, No.
Coming back to DV, prior to it being enacted, calling names to wives was not an offense and some husband might have called his wife with some name, either out of love and affection or in a fit of anger, which even the wife must have done. But since DV outlines it as an offense only for the husband, allowing retrospective clause in DV law, all wives can book their husbands under DV and 100 % marriages will break. So retrospective clause is not healthy from a social and a futuristic standpoint of legal consideration.
Again arguing that DV does not attract penal consequences and the same arise only when protection order is violated and that offense will not be retrospective, then it must be remembered that in first place, case should not have registered, so no protection order should have been passed. So no possibility of commission of offense if retrospective clause is not defined for DV. But since the court has allowed it, it is also an equal party to the offense and should share the penalty!!! What an absurdity?
http://judis.nic.in/chennai/qrydisp.asp?tfnm=13665
Hence taking a cue from the above judgment and using the aforesaid logic, we can develop a strong petition to challenge retrospectiveness of DV and challenge any such summons under 397 CrPC and bring the case to a halt.

Also specifically,

DV Cannot be used retrospectively

1)SLP(C) No.25219 of 2004 delivered by the Honorble Supreme Court of India where in it was held Penal Statutes (Acts) which create
new offences are always Prospective

2)1993 Crl.J 2636 delivered by Honorble Allahabad High Court where in it was held the accused was acquitted for the offences
punishable u/s 304B as the dowry death took place prior to the commencement of the act 304B.
Domestic Violence Lanmark Judgements

1) Crl.P 3714 of 2007 delivered by the Hon´ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh where in it was held "It is a fundamental principle of law that any penal provision has no retrospective operation but only prospective. There is no allegation either in the report or in the statement or in the complaint on the 1st Respondent with regards to the acts of domestic violence that took place on or after 26-10-2006.Therefor e continuation of proceedings against the petitioners is nothing but abuse of process of court".

2) I (2008) DMC 1 delivered by the Hon´ble Madhya Pradesh High Court held that "" Complaint for this offence can only be filed against adult male person and further held in 3( C ) that as provided by sec 2(q)of the act, such application u/s 12 of the act can´t be filed against petitioner´s who are ladies ".

3) 2007(2) ALT (Crl.) 504(A.P) delivered by the Hon´ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh where in it was held "as there is no claim made against the other respondents, continuing process against them is a clear abuse of law".

4) I (2007) DMC 1 (SC) = 2007(3) ALT (Crl.) 1(SC) delivered by the Hon´ble Supreme Court of India where in it was held"claim for alternative accommodation can only be made against the husband but not to the In-laws".

3 comments:

Gokul Padoor said...

Re: Two Important things to remember about DV Act
Posted by: "MOHANLAL" mrgupta_in (at) yahoo.com mrgupta_in
Fri Aug 22, 2008 3:47 am (PDT)
Dear friend,

Certainly siting examples will help many but can anybody tell that
how many of all those many wait hee to help others and what are their
contributions for the cause. Earlier I had floated a definition
of 'free advice' but nobody was interested in it. People do not want
to carry out research after they are given hints. People want ready
made food, eat & 'khisko'.

Anyway I do not wish to repeat a chinese idiom.

One can see 'Constitution of India' and there is an Article
where 'retrospectiveness' of any Act is prohibited, one can go to
High Court with a writ petition under Article 227 and u/s.482 for
quash of complaint under D.V. which is applied D.V. Act.

Cheers, enjoy life and forget for others as usual.

--- In saveindianfamily@ yahoogroups. com, "kulsak2005"
wrote:
>
> Dear Sir,
>
> The fact that DV act does not have a retrospective effect is not
> entertained by the court. What is to be done? Couuld you please
site
> any judgement of supreme court wherein it is stated taht DV act
does
> not have retrospective effect. Please make a copy available in this
> site which will of great help for so many.
>
> Thank You.
>

Gokul Padoor said...

DV Cannot be used retrospectively

1)SLP(C) No.25219 of 2004 delivered by the Honorble Supreme Court of India where in it was held Penal Statutes (Acts) which create
new offences are always Prospective

2)1993 Crl.J 2636 delivered by Honorble Allahabad High Court where in it was held the accused was acquitted for the offences
punishable u/s 304B as the dowry death took place prior to the commencement of the act 304B.

Domestic Violence Lanmark Judgements

1) Crl.P 3714 of 2007 delivered by the Hon´ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh where in it was held "It is a fundamental principle of law that any penal provision has no retrospective operation but only prospective. There is no allegation either in the report or in the statement or in the complaint on the 1st Respondent with regards to the acts of domestic violence that took place on or after 26-10-2006.Therefor e continuation of proceedings against the petitioners is nothing but abuse of process of court".

2) I (2008) DMC 1 delivered by the Hon´ble Madhya Pradesh High Court held that "" Complaint for this offence can only be filed against adult male person and further held in 3( C ) that as provided by sec 2(q)of the act, such application u/s 12 of the act can´t be filed against petitioner´s who are ladies ".

3) 2007(2) ALT (Crl.) 504(A.P) delivered by the Hon´ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh where in it was held "as there is no claim made against the other respondents, continuing process against them is a clear abuse of law".

4) I (2007) DMC 1 (SC) = 2007(3) ALT (Crl.) 1(SC) delivered by the Hon´ble Supreme Court of India where in it was held"claim for alternative accommodation can only be made against the husband but not to the In-laws".


Also see: http://bok498a.blogspot.com/2008/08/retrospective-clause-in-dv-strategy.html and its comment section.

Gokul Padoor said...

Also see another good compilation at http://ipc498a.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/citations-from-judgments-to-win-dv-act-cases