The Supreme Court ruled that a woman can claim maintenance from her second husband even if her first marriage wasn’t legally dissolved. The decision aims to protect women from financial hardship.
The Allahabad High Court has ruled that a marriage is not void just because the groom is under 21. This decision came after a father filed a complaint alleging that his daughter was kidnapped. The Court found that since the daughter married of her own free will and lived with her husband, the marriage is valid despite the groom’s age.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has emphasized that the term “wife” should be interpreted broadly for maintenance purposes, even in cases where a marriage might be legally invalid. Justice Harpreet Singh Brar clarified that a relationship “in the nature of marriage” is sufficient for claiming maintenance under Section 125 of the CrPC, and the subsistence of a previous marriage does not bar such claims. The court has remanded the matter to determine the maintenance amount.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court expands the definition of “wife” to include relationships resembling marriage for maintenance purposes, even in cases of void or invalid marriages.
