Back
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
MADAN B. LOKUR, PRAFULLA C. PANT, JJ.
SHAILJA & ANR. – Appellants
VERSUS
KHOBBANNA – Respondents
CRIMINAL APPEAL NOs. 125-126 of 2017 (Special Leave Petition (Crl.) No(s). 6025-6026 of 2013)
Decided On : 18-01-2017
Maintenance - Family Law - The court set aside the High Court's decision to reduce the maintenance awarded by the Family Court, considering the husband's income and the wife's capability of earning.
Fact of the Case:
The Family Court had awarded maintenance of Rs.15,000/- per month to the wife and Rs.10,000/- per month to the son. The High Court reduced the maintenance to Rs.6,000/- per month for both.
Finding of the Court:
The Supreme Court set aside the High Court's decision and restored the maintenance awarded by the Family Court. It affirmed that the wife's capability of earning is not sufficient reason to reduce the maintenance.
Issues: The main issue was the reduction of maintenance by the High Court based on the wife's capability of earning and the son's attainment of majority.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the wife's capability of earning is not a sufficient reason to reduce the maintenance awarded by the Family Court, and the son is entitled to maintenance until reaching majority.
Final Decision: The order passed by the Family Court was affirmed, and the appeals were allowed.
The court in this case emphasized that the capability of earning by the spouse is not a sufficient or sole reason to reduce maintenance without proper proof of actual earning capacity. The court highlighted that merely assuming or presuming that the spouse is capable of earning, without cogent proof or actual evidence of earning, is not justified. It underscored the importance of having concrete proof rather than relying on presumptions when determining maintenance obligations. Therefore, the court did deprecate the practice of awarding maintenance based on presumptions regarding income without supporting and cogent evidence. (!)
ORDER
Leave granted.
2. The matters have been called out twice but there is no appearance on behalf of the respondent.
3. We have gone through the impugned judgment and order dated 17.04.2013 passed by the High Court and order dated 22.11.2012 passed by the Family Court.
4. The Family Court had directed payment of maintenance for an amount of Rs.15,000/-per month to the appellant -wife and Rs.10,000/- per month to the son.
5. The High Court while considering the correctness of the order passed by the Family Court did not accept the contention of the respondent – husband that the appellant – wife was working. All that was held was that the appellant – wife was capable of earning and therefore maintenance was reduced to an amount of Rs.6000/-from Rs.15,000/-for her and Rs.6000/-from Rs.10,000/- for the son.
6. In other words, out of an amount of Rs.25,000/-(total) awarded by the Family Court for the appellant No.1 and the son, the High Court has reduced the amount to Rs.12,000/- (total).
7. We are not satisfied with the order passed by the High Court considering the income of the respondent – husband, which we have been told, is more than Rs.80,000/-per month since the respondent – husband is a Senior Lecturer in a college. It is stated by learned counsel for the appellants that the respondent – husband is also the owner of 26 acres of irrigated land.
8. That apart, we find that the High Court has proceeded on the basis that the appellant No.1 was capable of earning and that is one of the reasons for reducing the maintenance granted to her by the Family Court. Whether the appellant No.1 is capable of earning or whether she is actually earning are two different requirements. Merely because the appellant No.1 is capable of earning is not, in our opinion, sufficient reason to reduce the maintenance awarded by the Family Court.
9. Under the circumstances, we set aside the order passed by the High Court and restore the order passed by the Family Court.
10. It appears that the son has now attained the age of majority. If that is so, the son will be entitled to maintenance only till the age of reaching majority.
11. Subject to the above, the order passed by the Family Court is affirmed.
The appeals are accordingly allowed.
An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers
Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance
Scan Me!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :
Back to top
