Lok Ayukta has no power to deal with marital issues: HC

Hyderabad: A full bench of the High Court has no power under the law to deal with matrimonial matters and issue directions based upon orders of the Magistrate under the Domestic Violence Act.

The bench of acting Chief Justice Dilip Bhosale, Justice Vilas Afzalpurkar and Justice SV Bhat were dealing with a writ petition filed by a Dentist questioning the power of the Lok Ayukta in entertaining petitions filed by his estranged spouse , also a Dentist. The bench was dealing with a reference made to it by a division bench .

The bench on Friday in its verdict pointed out that the action of the Lok Ayukta in dealing with matrimonial matters was patently without jurisdiction. The bench declared that his powers were restricted to dealing with persons holding public office as defined under the relevant law.

The petitioner had complained that after the magistrate passed orders in favour of the woman she approached the Lok Ayukta who without the authority of law had expanded the scope of the order of the Magistrate without the authority of law and had also issued fresh directions not authorised by law.