The Supreme Court (SC), in Shaurabh Kumar Tripathi v Vidhi Rawal [2025 INSC 734], states that High Courts can quash complaints filed under Section 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (DV Act), in exercise of their inherent powers under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), now S.528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
Normally interference under section 482 is warranted only in case of gross illegality or injustice and such a power is to be exercised in order to prevent abuse of the process of any court or to secure the ends of justice.
The High Court can exercise jurisdiction under Section 482 of the CrPC to quash proceedings of an application under Section 12(1) or orders passed in accordance with Sections 18 to 23 of the DV Act.
Reference
- Shaurabh Kumar Tripathi v Vidhi Rawal [2025 INSC 734]
