The Karnataka High Court has increased the interim maintenance for a stay-at-home wife from ₹18,000 to ₹36,000, emphasizing that taking care of children is a full-time job. Justice M Nagaprasanna made this decision while dismissing the husband’s claim that his wife was “lazing around” despite being qualified to work.
The court was reviewing a petition by the wife challenging a family court’s order, which had set her interim maintenance at ₹18,000 per month while she was seeking ₹36,000. The judge noted that the responsibilities of childcare involve significant time and effort, which is not merely about surviving but includes various expenses and duties.
Justice Nagaprasanna highlighted that the wife had left her job at her husband’s request to care for their children. The wife’s lawyer presented evidence showing that the husband, employed at Canara Bank with a monthly salary of nearly ₹90,000, had not been covering the children’s school fees and other expenses.
The husband’s lawyer argued against the increase, suggesting that the husband’s job was unstable and that the wife was not fulfilling her duties. He also mentioned that the wife had previously worked as a lecturer and could earn on her own. However, the court found these arguments unconvincing, noting that the husband’s job at Canara Bank was secure and well-paying.
Referring to previous Supreme Court rulings, the judge stated that maintenance should reflect the living standards and expenses experienced during the marriage. Consequently, the court ruled that the family court had made an error by awarding only ₹18,000 in maintenance and granted the full ₹36,000 requested.
The court rejected the husband’s claims of job instability and affirmed that his employment with Canara Bank provided job security and a steady income. The wife’s petition was upheld, and her interim maintenance was doubled to ₹36,000.
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