'Kama ke khana chaiye': SC slams woman's Mumbai house, BMW, alimony demand

The woman approached the apex court demanding a luxury flat in Mumbai, ₹12 crore in maintenance, and a high-end BMW.

Updated on: Jul 22, 2025, 20:39:15 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Supreme Court on Monday rebuked a woman seeking extravagant maintenance from her estranged husband and asked her to work and earn the privilege given her qualifications.

The woman, who was representing herself in a marital dispute, had approached the apex court demanding a luxury flat in Mumbai, ₹12 crore in maintenance, and a high-end BMW.

Chief Justice BR Gavai described the package asked by the complainant as excessive.

Also Read | Capable women shouldn't seek interim alimony, law doesn't support idleness: Delhi High Court

"But that house is in Kalpataru, which is one of the good builders. You are an IT person. You have done your MBA. You are in demand in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Why don't you work?" NDTV quoted the chief justice as saying.

"You were married for just 18 months. And you also want a BMW?" he added, noting that the woman was practically asking for an alimony of ₹1 crore for every month of her 18-month marriage.

Also Read | Man fakes being jobless to dodge alimony, court orders him to pay ₹90,000 a month to wife

"Aap itni padi likhi hai. Aapko khudko mangna nahi chahiye aur khudko kama ke khana chahiye," the chief justice said. The order has been reserved.

What's the woman's stance?

The woman defended her demand for the maintenance, citing her husband's wealth and accused him of abandoning her unfairly.

"He is very rich. He sought annulment, saying I'm schizophrenic. Do I look schizophrenic, my lords?" she asked the bench.

Also Read | HC allows divorced woman to withdraw ₹1 crore alimony citing ill health, financial distress

The woman further claimed that her husband, who is a former Citibank manager who now reportedly runs two businesses, forced her to quit her previous job.

The court then went through the husband's tax returns as his lawyers pointed out that his income had declined after he quit his job.

The Chief Justice then told the woman to "be satisfied" with the flat and take up a "good job".

Also Read | Alimony can’t be a condition for bail in marital disputes: SC

"Or you better take those four crore, find a good job in Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore... there is a demand in IT centres," he said.

Meanwhile, senior Advocate Madhavi Divan, representing the husband, said the woman must also share responsibility for her livelihood. "She has to work, too. Everything cannot be demanded like this," Divan argued.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.