Delhi Court Denies Maintenance to MBA Graduate Wife, Citing Her Capability to Earn
A Delhi court has ruled against granting maintenance to a woman, Shiny Verma Bakshi, in a domestic violence case, stating she is highly qualified and capable of earning her own income. The court highlighted that maintenance is not an automatic right and must be justified based on the wife’s inability to sustain herself.
Court’s Reasoning
Shiny Verma Bakshi had requested Rs 50,000 per month in interim maintenance from her husband, Guneet Singh Bakshi, an orthopedic surgeon. However, Metropolitan Magistrate Swayam Siddha Tripathy stated, “The right to receive maintenance from the husband is not an absolute right of a wife.” The court pointed out that the wife must first demonstrate her inability to manage basic necessities and show that her husband’s lifestyle is significantly better than hers.
The magistrate noted that Shiny is an MBA graduate, well-educated, and capable of working. Despite this, she chose not to seek employment, relying instead on her husband for support. Furthermore, Shiny failed to prove that her husband, who is unemployed, was living a better lifestyle than hers.
Case Background
Shiny and Guneet married in 2018, and in 2020, Shiny filed a complaint alleging domestic violence, including being beaten by Guneet and his family. Although a lower court initially granted her Rs 8,000 per month as relief, this order was challenged and ultimately dismissed by the high court, which observed that Shiny was wealthier than her husband.
The court stated that the law’s intention is not to encourage willful unemployment and dependence on the husband. Instead, it aims to provide support where genuinely needed. The court emphasized that granting maintenance in this case would only promote idleness and unnecessary dependency.
Court’s Final Decision
Given Shiny’s qualifications and her ability to earn, the court decided not to grant her any maintenance. The ruling underscores the importance of demonstrating a genuine need for support and the ability to sustain oneself.
