Allahabad High Court: Second Marriage Not Ground to Deny Maintenance to First Wife

The Allahabad High Court has held that a Muslim husband’s obligation to maintain his legally wedded first wife cannot be diluted on the ground that he is maintaining a second wife.

The Court upheld a Family Court order granting ₹20,000 monthly maintenance to the first wife, noting that she was financially dependent on her parents.

The Bench observed that responsibilities arising from a subsequent marriage do not override the husband’s statutory duty to maintain his first wife.

The Court rejected the husband’s challenge to the maintenance order, reiterating that financial arrangements for a subsequent wife cannot defeat the lawful maintenance rights of the first wife.