Under the law, economic domestic violence refers to failing to meet a wife’s basic needs, including food, clothing, and household expenses, especially if she is living separately from her husband. In a recent ruling, the Indore Sessions Court ordered a husband to pay his wife Rs 25 lakh as a lump sum and Rs 15,000 per month in maintenance.
The case involved Mahendra, a builder and engineer, whose wife filed a maintenance claim due to ongoing disagreements between the couple. Initially, the district court had ordered Mahendra to pay Rs 5,000 per month in 2008. However, the wife, represented by Advocate KP Maheshwari, appealed to the Sessions Court, seeking higher compensation.
Mahendra argued that his wife was capable of earning her own income and that he was not obligated to provide additional financial support. However, the court rejected this argument, ruling that Mahendra was financially capable of maintaining his wife and was not fulfilling his duty to meet her basic needs.
The court observed that economic domestic violence includes not providing for a wife’s essential needs when the husband has the means to do so. The judge also clarified that while there wasn’t enough evidence to award compensation for property loss or mental and physical harassment, the husband was still required to provide adequate financial support. The court also noted that Mahendra was paying for their children’s education and daily needs, but this did not exempt him from his financial obligations toward his wife.
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