Bombay High Court: Unemployment does not excuse father from maintenance
India
The Bombay High Court has made it clear: being jobless doesn't let a father off the hook for child maintenance.
In a recent case, a father from Buldhana argued he couldn't pay because he'd sold his auto-rickshaw, his only source of income, but the court said caring for your kids is both a legal and personal duty, no matter your financial situation.
Bench orders ₹8,000 child maintenance
The bench stressed that raising children isn't just an option, it's an obligation.
Quoting the court, "Unemployment or low income cannot be a valid ground to shirk responsibility toward children,"
The father had already missed previous payments, and the court ordered him to pay ₹8,000 each month for his two children.