Punjab and Haryana High Court: Even a Beggar has to Pay Maintenance to Wife
Divorce is the only way to end a toxic marriage. However, it comes with a lot of legal, logistical, and most importantly, financial hardships.
Punjab and Haryana high courts, however, have made things even more difficult. The high courts have recently turned down a plea of a man challenging the maintenance amount.
The man was ordered by a lower court to pay maintenance of ₹15,000 per month and litigation expenses of ₹11,000. The wife of the man had applied for a divorce and has filed a plea under the Hindu Marriage Act seeking maintenance.
The man had challenged this order from a lower court. The high courts were quick to dismiss this plea. However, Justice HS Madaan made some rather shocking claims.
The high court was sensitive enough to reduce the maintenance amount. Justice Madaan acknowledged that the maintenance amount can't be high. However, he claims that a man has a moral and legal liability to maintain his wife even if he is a professional beggar.
Justice Madaan also said that even a laborer earns ₹500 per day. He noticed that, in this case, the man is an able-bodied person. He reduced the maintenance to ₹5000 per month and litigation expenses to ₹5500.
(Input from various media sources)