jurisdiction in proceedings under Section 125 Cr.P.C. or before a Family Court or other Courts, hence, therefore, each of such proceedings is maintainable. If a spouse is neglected or one of them refuses to maintain the other, maintenance can be prayed for before a Criminal Court under Section 125 Cr.P.C., a proceeding which is entertained and disposed of summarily. As it is known, a proceeding before a Family Court with reliefs sought for is quite distinct and independent of any other proceedings before other Courts. Under the DV Act, apart from maintenance many other reliefs are sought for, such as, right of residence, protection orders, custody rights, compensation etc. besides monetary relief, which cannot be specifically considered by other Courts. For such relief under the DV Act, a Court must be prima facie satisfied about a domestic violence to have been committed against the aggrieved person. The existence of a domestic relationship is also a condition to be fulfilled before granting reliefs under the DV Act. But at the same time, it is to be kept in mind that interim maintenance cannot be allowed ignoring the earlier orders of a Court in a different proceeding. The maintainability of the proceedings being exclusive and independent of each other cannot be questioned but once a relief of maintenance is granted, while such a relief is once again prayed for, the subsequent Court is to take cognizance of the earlier order, while dealing with an application received from one of the spouses.
