Well-Qualified Husband Cannot Quit Job to Avoid Maintenance to Wife : Orissa High Court

The Orissa High Court dismissed a husband's plea challenging the Family Court’s order directing him to pay ₹15,000/month as pendente lite maintenance to his wife and child.

Justice G. Satapathy held that a well-qualified husband quitting his job to avoid maintenance cannot be excused.

The Court emphasized that spouses with qualifications must not remain idle and cited Supreme Court rulings reinforcing this principle. It ruled that maintenance should ensure a standard of living proportionate to the husband's financial capacity.

Rejecting the husband's unemployment plea, the Court upheld the ₹10,000 litigation expenses, discouraging self-imposed joblessness to evade responsibility.