In a rare case, the Bombay High Court ordered a working woman to pay monthly maintenance to her former husband as a part of the divorce settlement. Her ex-husband is unable to earn due to his ailments. The court directed the woman to pay monthly maintenance of Rs 10,000 to her former husband due to his health conditions.
A single bench of Justice Sharmila Deshmukh in the order of April 2 noted that the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act uses the term 'spouse' and this would include both husband and wife.
"The provisions of Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act use the term 'spouse' and this would include the husband or the wife who is unable to maintain himself/herself," the HC said.
The High Court in its order noted that the woman has not disputed the fact that her former husband was not in a position to earn a living due to his medical ailments.
"As the husband is unable to maintain himself, the wife who has a source of income, is liable to pay interim maintenance," the high court said.
The bench dismissed the petition filed by the woman challenging a March 2020 order passed by a civil court directing her to pay Rs 10,000 monthly maintenance to her former husband.
The family court had, while granting divorce to the couple, allowed the application filed by the man seeking monthly maintenance from his ex-wife.
The man had claimed that due to certain medical ailments, he was unable to work and hence he was entitled to maintenance from his ex-wife who was employed as a bank manager.
The woman in her plea in the HC said she was not in a position financially to pay maintenance as she already had the liability of repayment of a home loan as well as maintenance of their minor child.
The woman further claimed that in 2019, she had resigned from her job and at the time (when the lower court passed its order) had no source of income.
The high court, however, noted that if this was the case then it was necessary for the woman to have disclosed how she was looking after the expenses of herself and her child without a job.
Justice Deshmukh noted that at present the woman has not disputed the fact that she is earning.
(With PTI inputs)
