Supreme Court Quashes DV Act Proceedings Initiated After Voluntary Settlement Agreement

Case Snapshot

• Case Name: Reji Baby v. Subi Mary & Ors.

• Citation: 2026 INSC 918

• Bench: Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Manmohan

• Date of Judgment: August 24, 2026

• Area of Law: Family Law, Domestic Violence Act, Settlement Agreements

The Judgment in One Line

DV Act proceedings quashed where wife voluntarily relinquished all monetary claims in settlement agreement without any legal challenge.

Why This Judgment Matters

This judgment is significant as it clarifies that parties cannot resile from a valid settlement agreement and initiate fresh proceedings under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, after having voluntarily waived all monetary claims. The Supreme Court held that once a wife has voluntarily relinquished her right to maintenance in a settlement agreement and confirmed it through an affidavit, she cannot revive those claims through subsequent DV Act proceedings. The judgment also distinguished between the wife and the major daughter—the daughter, not being a party to the settlement agreement, was permitted to initiate fresh proceedings. This will discourage misuse of the DV Act after settlement of disputes.

Background

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