Husband Must Earn More to Pay Maintenance, Personal Liabilities No Excuse : P& H High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court held that if a husband claims he cannot afford the court-ordered maintenance amount, he must earn more to fulfil his legal, social, and economic duty to support his wife and minor children.

The couple married in 2014 and have two children. The husband, a senior nurse earning ₹57,606 monthly, claimed the wife left without cause and has lived separately for five years.

The Court dismissed a husband's plea to reduce ₹24,700 monthly maintenance, rejecting arguments about financial liabilities and other dependents.

The Court held that personal liabilities cannot outweigh statutory responsibility, and the amount was reasonable given current living costs and inflation, also holding that maintenance is a priority obligation.