Husband is obliged to pay maintenance to his wife even if he is unemployed: Allahabad High Court

Lucknow: The Allahabad High Court has ruled that a man is liable to pay maintenance to his wife even if he is unemployed. The court emphasized that one can earn 300-400 rupees even through wage work. The court dismissed a young man's appeal against the family court's order to pay maintenance of Rs 2,000 a month to his divorced wife and upheld its decision.

According to the details of the case, the couple got married in 2015 and due to the dowry demand, the woman filed a case against her husband and mother-in-law. She then returned to her parents' house. The husband appealed to the Supreme Court citing the wife's degree and a monthly income of Rs 10,000 as a teacher. He mentioned his own illness and staying in a rented room and reiterated the responsibility of caring for his parents and sisters.

The Supreme Court found that the man had provided no evidence to support his claim regarding his wife's income as a teacher. It also rejected the argument that the man's parents and sisters were financially dependent on him and emphasized the man's ability to earn money through hard work. Citing a 2022 Supreme Court order, the court found that the man must continue to pay alimony to his wife even if he does not claim employment income. The court observed that even an unskilled worker can earn at least Rs 300 to Rs 400 per day.