Maintenance Cannot be Used as a Penal Tool Against Husband: Rajasthan High Court

The Rajasthan High Court has ruled that the purpose of granting maintenance is to prevent destitution and starvation of the wife, and not to penalise the husband.

The Court observed that maintenance provisions are intended as a measure of social justice to ensure financial support for a dependent spouse.

It further noted that the amount awarded must be fair, reasonable, and based on the financial circumstances of both parties.

The judgment reiterated that maintenance cannot be treated as a punitive mechanism against the husband and must instead balance the needs of the wife with the paying capacity of the husband.

[Rakesh Sharma v. Manju Devi]