“Dignity Denied When Maintenance Delayed”: Delhi High Court Upholds Timely Support for Wife and Child

The Delhi High Court has underscored the critical importance of timely maintenance payments, observing that “financial support delayed is dignity denied.”

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma was deciding a plea by a husband challenging a family court’s ₹45,000 monthly maintenance order for his wife and child.

While upholding the obligation, the Court slightly reduced the amount to ₹40,000, owing to the husband’s existing school fee payments. 

The Court stressed that maintenance is a legal and moral duty, not a discretionary expense, and voluntary EMIs cannot override the statutory rights of dependents.

The court held that delay, even for a day, can erode the dignity and security of maintenance beneficiaries.