Delhi High Court: Wife Entitled to Stay in Shared Household Even After In-Laws Disown Husband

The Delhi High Court has ruled that a wife has the right to reside in the shared household where she lived immediately after marriage, even if her husband is later disowned by his parents.

In a significant judgment issued on October 16, Justice Sanjeev Narula dismissed an application filed by the woman's mother-in-law and late father-in-law, affirming that a daughter-in-law cannot be evicted except through proper legal procedures.

The case involved advocate Samvedna Verma representing the daughter-in-law, while advocate Kajal Chandra appeared for the in-laws.

According to court documents, the dispute originated following the woman's marriage to the petitioners' son in 2010, after which she began residing with her in-laws at their property. The relationship deteriorated in 2011, leading to numerous civil and criminal proceedings between the parties over the past decade.

The petitioners argued that the property was self-acquired by the late Daljit Singh and therefore could not be classified as a shared household under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.

Despite these claims, the court maintained that the current living arrangement—with the mother-in-law occupying the first floor and the daughter-in-law residing on the ground floor—sufficiently balanced the interests of both parties.

The court's decision underscores the legal protections afforded to women in matrimonial homes under Indian law, regardless of changes in family dynamics.