Daughter-in-Law Liable for Mother-in-Law's Maintenance After Compassionate Job: P & H Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that a daughter-in-law who obtained a compassionate job after her husband's death is obligated to provide maintenance to her mother-in-law. 

This decision is based on the principle that compassionate appointments are intended to assist the deceased employee's family.

By accepting the job, the daughter-in-law is deemed to have assumed some of her husband's financial responsibilities towards his family.

While acknowledging the hardships faced by single mothers, the court emphasized that compassionate appointments carry with them certain obligations.

The court relied on the provisions of Section 125 of the CrPC (Section 144 of the BNSS), which mandates that individuals with sufficient means must maintain their wives, children, and parents who are unable to support themselves.