Sections 18-23 of the Domestic Violence Act provide a large number of avenues for an abused woman to get relief. She can get protection orders, residence orders, monetary relief and custody order for children.

'I pleaded with the court that I will get her a rented accommodation but the court asked me to give the keys of my house to her and directed me not to visit that house,' Sharma said.

According to him, Sunita works with a multinational, earning Rs.6 lakhs a year.

Sharma's is not the only case where a husband has had to vacate the house.

Sandeep Bhartia, founder of the Gender Human Rights Society, which fights for the rights of men accused of domestic violence, said that married men were daily losing their homes under the Domestic Violence Act.

He said the act was so stringent that judges at times overlooked points that may show the husbands in good light.

'In some cases the husband and wife were staying separately for more than two years, in some maintenance had already been decided. But all that is immaterial when the act comes into play. Judges have to give some relief, at least a right of residence to her,' Bhartia said.

(Names have been changed on request)

(Kanu Sarda can be contacted at kanu.s@ians.in)