Women’s qualification no bar to deny her maintenance: HC

Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court recently held that merely being educated, even up to post-graduation, was not enough to deny maintenance to a wife, underscoring that financial independence must be proven, not presumed.Justice Urmila Joshi-Phalke partly allowed an application filed by a Central Railway loco pilot challenging a Nagpur family court order that granted maintenance to his estranged wife and minor daughter. While modifying the quantum, she reaffirmed the wife's entitlement, stating, "Merely because she is an educated lady is not sufficient to hold that she is able-bodied to maintain herself. Even those who obtained a higher degree or specialization are also unable to get jobs."The case stems from a 2011 marriage that deteriorated amid allegations of harassment, suspicion and domestic discord. The wife, who left the matrimonial home after repeated disputes, sought maintenance under Section 125 of Code of Criminal Procedure, claiming she had no independent income. The man argued his wife was well-qualified and capable of earning, and therefore not entitled to support, which was opposed by wife's counsel Jyoti Dharmadhikari.Rejecting this contention, the court noted the absence of evidence showing the wife was employed or earning. It observed, "There is no evidence to show she is earning any amount for her livelihood," adding that unemployment remains a reality even for highly qualified individuals.The judge also examined the husband's claim that the wife refused to cohabit, despite a decree for restitution of conjugal rights. It clarified the distinction between "failure" and "refusal," holding a mere non-compliance by the wife does not automatically disentitle her to maintenance. "A decree for restitution of conjugal rights would not be a determinative factor to deny her right to maintenance," the judgment said.In fact, the court found the wife had attempted to return, but was not accepted by the husband. "There was refusal and neglect on the husband's part," the bench said.The judgment reiterated that Section 125 CrPC is "a measure of social justice" aimed at preventing destitution. "The object is not to punish a person for his neglect, but to prevent vagrancy," the court said.Financial records showed the husband's income rose from around ₹60,000 per month in 2017-18 to ₹85,000 in 2022-23. Taking into account prior maintenance orders and his liabilities, Justice Joshi-Phalke modified the family court's award.The judge directed that the wife be paid ₹10,000 per month and the daughter ₹5,000 from Oct 9, 2017, to Dec 2020, and thereafter ₹12,000 and ₹7,000 respectively from Jan 2021 onward, in addition to earlier maintenance granted in separate proceedings. Litigation costs of ₹20,000 were also upheld.Key Takeaways from HC verdict:Wife's postgraduate qualification insufficient to deny maintenanceHC distinguishes between refusal & failure to cohabit under Section 125(4) CrPCDecree for restitution of conjugal rights not decisive in rejecting maintenance claimsEvidence shows the husband did not accept the wife's attempt to returnCourt found "refusal and neglect" by the husband to maintain wife & childSection 125 CrPC reaffirmed as a social justice measure to prevent destitutionHusband's income assessed between ₹60,000 and ₹85,000 per month over yearsMaintenance modified, but entitlement upheld for both wife & minor daughter