Court emphasizes the reasonable provision of maintenance amid the father's obligations to multiple children.

J U D G M E N T

The petitioner, who is working in Dubai, is the affluent father of a 5 year old child. He has come before this Court challenging the order passed by the Family Court, Punalur granting a reasonable amount of maintenance to his daughter.

2. The petitioner is admittedly the father of the 2^nd respondent, who was born to the 1^st respondent, his 2^nd wife. His first marriage is still subsisting. It is submitted that three children were born out of the first marriage of the petitioner and all three children are residing with him. His case is that he cannot provide maintenance at the rate of Rs.15,000/- per month as ordered by the Family Court to the 2^nd respondent, who is not residing with him. It is not in dispute that the petitioner is working abroad. Even though he has taken up a contention that he is earning only Rs.60,000/- per month, no documentary evidence had been produced to substantiate the same. At any rate, he is maintaining all the three children born out of his first wife. He cannot contend that the monthly maintenance amount of Rs.15,000/- awarded to the 2^nd respondent, who was born to his second wife, is on the higher side.

3. Considering the requirement of the 2^nd respondent and the ability and income of the petitioner, the monthly maintenance granted to the 2^nd respondent by the Family Court appears to be very reasonable, if not inadequate. I see no illegality or impropriety in the impugned order.

Accordingly, the original petition is dismissed.