The Chhattisgarh High Court ruled that under Section 125 CrPC, the term ‘wife’ includes women married through rites, not just legally wedded wives. The court upheld maintenance orders and dismissed the criminal revision.
The Chhattisgarh High Court has ruled that the term ‘wife’ under Section 125 CrPC includes not only a lawfully wedded wife but also a woman married by performing necessary rites. This significant decision broadens the scope of who can claim maintenance under this law.
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.
