E-Paper
Wife holding graduate degree can't be compelled to work: Delhi High Court
The court's remarks came in response to a petition which was filed by a man who was seeking a reduction in his wife's monthly interim maintenance
The Delhi High Court said on Wednesday that only because a wife is a graduate, she cannot be compelled to work and it cannot be assumed that she would intentionally refrain from employment to claim maintenance from her estranged husband.
The court's remarks came in response to a petition which was filed by a man who was seeking a reduction in his wife's monthly interim maintenance, which was initially set at ₹25,000 but he sought for it to be reduced to ₹15,000, citing her possession of a B.Sc degree, PTI reported.
A bench, led by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, acknowledged that the wife's graduate status was undisputed; however, the court emphasised that she had never been gainfully employed.
The court found no grounds to intervene in the family court's determination of the interim maintenance.
The bench stated, "No inference can be drawn that merely because the wife is holding a degree of graduation, she must be compelled to work. It can also not be presumed that she is intentionally not working solely with an intent to claim interim maintenance from the husband," the bench, consisting of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, said.
The high court also declined the wife's request for an increase in the maintenance amount, as it found no valid basis for such a request, asserting that the family court had reasonably assessed her and their son's expenses.
However, the court set aside a ₹1,000 penalty per day, which would be imposed on the husband in case of a delayed maintenance payment. It directed the husband to pay the interest at a rate of 6 per cent per annum for any delayed payments.
The court also imposed a penalty of ₹550 per day related to the delay in payment of litigation costs.
(With inputs from PTI)
Stay updated with all top Cities including, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and more across India. Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News along with Delhi Election 2025 and Delhi Election Result 2025 Live, New Delhi Election Result Live, Kalkaji Election Result Live at Hindustan Times.
