Even a Professional Beggar Must Pay Maintenance to Wife: Punjab and Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently dismissed a husband’s plea against a maintenance order, stating that a husband is legally bound to support his wife, even if he is a professional beggar. The court upheld a lower court’s decision, reinforcing that a husband must provide financial assistance if his wife cannot sustain herself.

Court Ruling on Maintenance

Justice HS Madaan heard the case where a husband challenged a lower court’s directive to pay Rs 5,000 per month in maintenance to his wife. The wife had initially sought Rs 15,000 per month under the Hindu Marriage Act, along with Rs 11,000 for litigation expenses. However, the lower court granted Rs 5,000 per month as maintenance and Rs 5,500 as a one-time payment for legal costs.

Feeling aggrieved by this ruling, the husband appealed to the High Court, arguing against the order. However, Justice Madaan dismissed the appeal, affirming that the husband, being physically capable, should provide for his wife. The judge noted that even a laborer earns around Rs 500 per day, making the ordered amount reasonable given the rising cost of living.

Legal and Moral Obligation

The court stressed that a husband has both a moral and legal duty to support his wife if she lacks the means to sustain herself. Justice Madaan stated that the husband failed to prove that his wife had any income or assets to support herself. Therefore, the court upheld the lower court’s ruling and ordered him to comply with the maintenance order.

This judgment highlights the importance of financial responsibility in marital disputes and reinforces the legal protection available to wives seeking support from their husbands.

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