Punjab High Court: False Assertions in Maintenance Pleas Should Be Discouraged
The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently highlighted that false statements in maintenance cases should be strongly discouraged. This statement came in response to a case involving a woman who concealed her job and earnings while seeking maintenance under Section 125 of the CrPC.
The petitioner, Ritu, challenged the decision of the Additional Principal Judge (Family Court) in Ambala, which ordered an investigation into her for concealing her income. The inquiry was based on her false claims about having no income while applying for maintenance.
During her court deposition, Ritu initially claimed she had no income. However, she later admitted to being employed as an Assistant Professor with a monthly salary of Rs. 28,000. She had applied for maintenance on July 26, 2017, just weeks after starting her job on July 3, 2017. In her application, she stated she had no financial means to support herself or her daughter.
The lower court concluded that Ritu’s false evidence warranted an inquiry into whether she committed an offense under Sections 191 and 193 of the IPC, related to false testimony and document falsification.
The High Court emphasized that when filing for maintenance under Section 125 CrPC, the claimant must fully disclose their financial status. This transparency allows the court to determine the appropriate amount of maintenance, if any. The court’s ruling reinforces the importance of honesty in legal proceedings involving financial support.
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