Quick Summary: Sheetal Chandrakant Kunjir took her case to the Bombay High Court, seeking protection under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. She claimed a "relationship in the nature of marriage" with Chandrakant Tukaram Kunjir. However, the court ruled against her, stating the relationship did not qualify under the Act.
Sheetal Chandrakant Kunjir, a 34-year-old housewife from Pune, filed a case against Chandrakant Tukaram Kunjir and others, claiming domestic violence. She said her relationship with Chandrakant was like a marriage, even though he was already married to someone else.
Sheetal met Chandrakant while studying engineering in Pune. He was a professor, and they started dating in 2001. Chandrakant supposedly promised to marry her after divorcing his wife, who he said was mentally ill. They secretly got married in Mahad on June 18, 2005.
After their marriage, Sheetal and Chandrakant lived together in Mumbai and Pune. However, problems started when Sheetal found out about Chandrakant's ongoing relationship with another woman, Sarika Dnyandeo Kanchan, leading to arguments and legal issues.
Sheetal filed a complaint under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. At first, she got some help, including financial support and compensation. However, the Sessions Court in Pune canceled this decision in July 2016, leading her to appeal to the High Court.
Justice Manjusha Deshpande looked into the case, focusing on whether Sheetal's relationship with Chandrakant was like a marriage. The court noted that even though they lived together and had a child, Sheetal knew Chandrakant was already married.
"In similar situations, the Supreme Court has decided that such relationships do not count as 'relationships in the nature of marriage'."
The court decided that Sheetal's relationship with Chandrakant did not meet the requirements under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. Her petition was dismissed, and the earlier decision by the Sessions Court was confirmed.
