Yes. Earlier, under Section 2(q) of the DV Act, only adult male persons could be named as respondents. But in Hiral P. Harsora v. Kusum Narottamdas Harsora (2016), the Supreme Court removed the words "adult male" from the law. Now, even female relatives of the husband—like the mother-in-law or sister-in-law—can be made parties if they are involved in abuse, whether it's physical, verbal, emotional, or economic. This allows courts to hold all those responsible for domestic violence, regardless of gender. This interpretation has made the law more inclusive and realistic, especially in Indian joint families where multiple members may contribute to abuse or harassment.
For example: if a woman is harassed by both her husband and her mother-in-law for dowry or is insulted and abused by her sister-in-law, she can file a complaint under the DV Act against all of them. The court will consider the role of each respondent based on the facts and evidence.