Any woman residing in India either temporarily or permanently is entitled to seek relief from a court of law under the Domestic Violence Act even if her spouse lives outside the country, the Madras HC said. The court dismissed a petition challenging a domestic violence complaint filed by his wife against him in a Chennai family court. "The cause of action arises in India since the aggrieved person is residing here, even if abused economically by the spouse residing in another country," he said.