Supreme Court Orders Man Earning ₹325/Day to Pay ₹10,000 Monthly Maintenance

The Supreme Court directed a man claiming to earn only ₹325 per day to pay ₹10,000 in monthly maintenance to his estranged wife.

A Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta expressed skepticism over the husband’s claim of earning just ₹9,000 monthly, calling it "difficult to swallow" in today’s economy.

Reinforcing the husband's legal obligation, Justice Mehta remarked that one must "beg, borrow, or steal" to fulfill the duty of maintaining a spouse.

The Court declined to interfere with the previous maintenance standards, emphasizing that alimony must reflect realistic living costs rather than potentially understated income claims.