The Karnataka High Court recently ruled that a wife cannot remain unemployed and expect complete financial maintenance from her estranged husband. The Court stated she is only entitled to supportive maintenance, not full dependency.
The case involved a woman and her child challenging a previous order by the sessions court that reduced her maintenance from ₹10,000 to ₹5,000 and compensation from ₹3,00,000 to ₹2,00,000.
The woman argued that the amount given by the court was not enough and that the reduction in maintenance was not properly explained. However, Justice Rajendra Badamikar observed that the woman used to work before marriage and had not provided any valid reason for not working now.
The judge clearly stated:
“She cannot sit idle and expect the husband to pay full maintenance. She must make some effort to earn her livelihood. She is only entitled to supportive maintenance.”
The High Court clarified that the maintenance for the child remained unchanged. The reduction applied only to the wife’s maintenance.
The woman had also refused to live with her mother-in-law and unmarried sister-in-law, which was noted by the court. Meanwhile, the husband, who runs provision stores, was already supporting his mother and sister financially.
Considering all these factors, the Court upheld the sessions court’s decision to reduce her maintenance. It also noted that there was no strong evidence to challenge the compensation amount, so that order also remained unchanged.
The High Court ultimately dismissed the woman’s appeal.
- Case Title: XYZ & ANR vs Gurumanjunatha A S & Others
- Case Number: Criminal Revision Petition No.1324 of 2015
Be a part our social media community:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndianMan.in?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/indianman.in?igsh=MWZ2N3N0ZmpwM3l3cw==
