12/20/2014

Husbandisboundtogivemaintenancetoseparatedwife,saysSupremeCourt|LatestNews&UpdatesatDailyNews&Analysis

Itisthesacrosanctdutyofhusbandtoprovidefinancialsupporttoseparatedwifeevenifheis
requiredtoearnmoneywithphysicallabourwith"noescaperoute",theSupremeCourthassaid
whileholdingthatmaintenancemustbeenoughforhertoleadadignifiedlife.
Theapexcourtsaiditistheobligationofthehusbandtoseethatthewifedoesnotbecomea
destitute,abeggaranddirectedfamilycourtstodisposeofcasesofmaintenance,divorce,
custodyofchild,propertydisputesasexpeditiouslyaspossibletoamelioratetheagonyand
financialsufferingofawomanwholefthermatrimonialhome.
"Infact,itisthesacrosanctdutytorenderthefinancialsupportevenifthehusbandisrequiredto
earnmoneywithphysicallabour,ifheisablebodied.Thereisnoescaperouteunlessthereisan
orderfromtheCourtthatthewifeisnotentitledtogetmaintenancefromthehusbandonany
legallypermissiblegrounds,"abenchofjusticesDipakMisraandVGopalaGowdasaid.
Holdingthatwifeisentitledinlawtoleadalifeinthesimilarmannerasshewouldhavelivedin
thehouseofherhusband,thebenchsaidsocialstatusbealsoconsideredwhilefixingamountof
maintenance.
"Theconceptofsustenancedoesnotnecessarilymeantoleadthelifeofananimal,feellikean
unpersontobethrownawayfromgraceandroamforherbasicmaintenancesomewhereelse.
Sheisentitledinlawtoleadalifeinthesimilarmannerasshewouldhavelivedinthehouseof
herhusband.
"Thatiswherethestatusandstratacomeintoplay,andthatiswheretheobligationsofthe
husband,incaseofawife,becomeaprominentone.Inaproceedingofthisnature,thehusband
cannottakesubterfugestodepriveherofthebenefitoflivingwithdignity,"itsaid.
Theapexcourtsaiditisimpermissiblethatawifeiscompelledtoresigntoherfateand"thinkof
lifedustuntodust",consideringthesolemnpledgeatthetimeofmarriageandalsoin
consonancewiththestatutorylawthatgovernsthefield.
"Itistheobligationofthehusbandtoseethatthewifedoesnotbecomeadestitute,abeggar.A
situationisnottobemaladroitlycreatedwhereundersheiscompelledtoresigntoherfateand
thinkoflife'dustuntodust'.Itistotallyimpermissible,"thebenchsaid.

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12/20/2014

Husbandisboundtogivemaintenancetoseparatedwife,saysSupremeCourt|LatestNews&UpdatesatDailyNews&Analysis

ThebenchpassedtheorderonanappealfiledbyamanchallengingtheRajasthanHigh
Courtorderdirectinghimtopaymaintenancefromthedayhiswifefiledanapplicationinafamily
courtwhichtooknineyearstopassorder.
Thebenchexpresseddispleasureoverthedelayinproceedinginfamilycourt,sayingitis
unfortunatethatthecasecontinuedfornineyearsbeforetheFamilyCourtwhichisagainsthuman
rights.
"ThisdelayinadjudicationbytheFamilyCourtisnotonlyagainsthumanrightsbutalsoagainst
thebasicembodimentofdignityofanindividual,"thebenchsaid.
"Theapproaches,asweperceive,notonlydefeatthecommandofthelegislaturebutalso
frustratethehopeofwifeandchildrenwhoaredeprivedofadequatelivelihoodandwhose
aspirationsperishlikemushroomandpossiblythebriefcandleofsustenancejoinsthemarathon
raceofextinction,"thebenchsaid.

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