Court asks woman to find job within a year, grants maintenance

New Delhi, Mar 15: A woman has been granted monthly maintenance of Rs 10,000 for a year only from her estranged husband by a Delhi court which directed the educated lady to look for a job during this period to start an independent life.

"The woman shall during the period of one year look for a job and start an independent life. After the conclusion of one year, respondent (husband) shall not pay the maintenance of woman," Additional Sessions Judge Anuradha Shukla Bhardwaj said.

"The appellant will have to take up some work sooner or later, she being an educated woman having earlier work experience," the court said, adding "this maintenance, however, cannot be perpetual as argued by the counsel for the respondent (man)."

The court directed the man to pay an additional amount of Rs 10,000 per month to his wife but said "this maintenance, however, shall be for restricted period i.e. for one year from the date of this order."

The order came on an appeal filed by the woman against a magisterial court's order which had directed the man to pay a maintenance of Rs 15,000 per month to their child along with Rs 10,000 per month for residence of his estranged wife.

The woman had approached the sessions court seeking maintenance for her contending that she was an unemployed lady and has to take care of her minor child while her husband and in-laws had assets and good income.

The sessions court observed that she had to leave her job due to marriage and birth of child and the man has a liability to provide her maintenance.

The sessions court also upheld the Rs 15,000 maintenance granted to the child of the couple and Rs 10,000 relief for residence granted to the wife.

It took on record the salary of the husband as Rs 75,000 saying his actual income will be decided during the trial of the domestic violence case which was pending.

PTI