Bombay HC upholds maintenance order for estranged wife
The Bombay High Court has told a man to pay his estranged wife ₹15,000 per month during the pendency of their divorce petition—even though she earns ₹18,000 herself.
The court said she deserves help to maintain the standard of living she had while married.
Husband makes ₹1.17L/month but claimed he was earning ₹40K
Turns out, the husband actually makes over ₹1.17 lakh a month (way more than he claimed).
The judges noticed the big income gap and that the wife is living with her parents because money's tight.
They said even if someone is earning, they can still get maintenance if there's a clear financial imbalance.
Court's observations on maintenance
The ruling highlights that maintenance isn't just about whether someone has a job—it's about making sure both people can keep up with the life they shared during marriage.
The court wants support decisions to reflect real financial situations, not just numbers on paper.