Overview

• A single-judge bench dismissed a petition challenging an August 2023 family court order directing ₹15,000 monthly maintenance during divorce proceedings
• The court noted the husband’s true salary exceeded ₹1.17 lakh per month while the wife earned roughly ₹18,000, highlighting a stark income disparity
• It ruled that the wife’s additional earnings from tutoring and fixed-deposit interest were neither permanent nor sufficient for her upkeep
• Judges observed that the wife’s reliance on family for accommodation imposed hardship they cannot sustain indefinitely
• The decision reinforces that interim maintenance must enable a spouse to maintain the marital standard of living established before separation