M.L. MEHTA, J.

1. This is a suit for a decree of 1) personal maintenance u/S 18 of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act” and 2) for damages against the husband (defendant no.1) and the father-in-law (who has now been deleted from the array of defendants).

2. The claim of the plaintiff for maintenance arises from the fact that she married the defendant no.1, who was domiciled, settled and was employed, as an in-house developer with M/s Impact Systems Inc., a software development company, in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A and was earning USD 5000 per month plus perks and bonuses etc. The plaintiffs case is as follows. She held a Post Graduate Diploma in Management and prior to the marriage was a permanent employee, as a secretary, in Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI), New Delhi and was about to be promoted. She gave up this position in India to marry the defendant in Delaware. On 23.04.1999, the marriage was solemnized before the Clerk of the Peace, who issued a marriage certificate. On 25.04.1999, the wedding was solemnized according to the Hindu traditions, rite and rituals in the Lord Venkateswara Temple, Pittsburgh, U.S.A. O