Allahabad High Court Delivers Landmark Ruling on Maintenance Claims
The Allahabad High Court has issued a significant judgment stating that a wife cannot claim maintenance from her husband if her actions or omissions contribute to his incapacity to earn a livelihood. This ruling reinforces the principle that maintenance obligations are intrinsically linked to the earning ability of the spouse.
Court Upholds Family Court Decision in Kushinagar Case
Upholding the decision of the Family Court in Kushinagar, which had rejected the wife's application for maintenance, the High Court emphasized that granting maintenance in such circumstances would result in grave injustice. The court highlighted that this is particularly true when the husband's earning capacity has been destroyed by criminal acts committed by the wife's family members.
Details of the Criminal Revision Petition
Dismissing the criminal revision petition filed by the wife, Vineeta, Justice Lakshmi Kant Shukla noted that while Indian society generally expects a husband to work and support his family, this case presented unique and exceptional circumstances. The husband, Dr. Ved Prakash Singh, a homeopathic practitioner, was previously able to maintain his family adequately.
However, his ability to earn a living was completely eradicated after he was shot by his wife's brother and father during a confrontation at his clinic. A pellet remains lodged in Dr. Singh's spinal cord, and the surgery required to remove it carries a high risk of paralysis. This has left him unable to sit comfortably or sustain any form of employment.
Family Court's Initial Ruling and HC's Affirmation
The Family Court had initially rejected the woman's application for interim maintenance on May 7, 2025. The High Court upheld this decision, observing that the husband's physical incapacity was undisputed and directly caused by actions from the woman's side of the family. The court acknowledged that while a husband has a pious obligation to maintain his wife, this duty is contingent upon his capacity to earn.
Legal Precedent Cited by the High Court
In its decision dated January 19, the High Court referenced the Supreme Court judgment in Shamima Farooqui v. Shahid Khan (2015) to bolster the principle that maintenance is fundamentally tied to the ability to earn. This citation underscores the legal foundation supporting the ruling, ensuring it aligns with established jurisprudence.
The court's judgment serves as a crucial reminder that maintenance claims must be evaluated within the context of each case's specific facts, especially when external factors, such as criminal acts by family members, impact the earning potential of the spouse.
