Pune: Court Slams Husband for Abandoning Responsibility of Wife and Children, Orders Rs 20,000 Monthly Alimony

Pune:

In a family court judgement, First Class Judicial Magistrate Amol Shinde ordered a man to pay Rs 20,000 per month as alimony to his wife, citing the husband’s moral responsibility to support his spouse and their two young children. The court emphasised that the husband’s income was sufficient to ensure a stable upbringing for the children and uphold his obligations as a father and spouse.

The case, which revolved around allegations of domestic violence and marital betrayal, has drawn widespread attention. The couple, who were once classmates, married in February 2015. They had two children, and the initial years of their marriage appeared smooth. However, after a few years, the husband started harassing his wife physically and emotionally.

The turning point came when the wife discovered that her husband had secretly married another woman without her consent. When she confronted him about it, her husband confined and tortured her before forcing her to leave for her parents’ house. In this regard, she filed a case under the Domestic Violence Act against her husband.

Advocate Kalpana Nikam, Vice President of the Family Court Lawyers Association, represented the wife, arguing that the husband had shirked his responsibility despite his good income. Nikam argued that the woman’s husband has a stable job, significant agricultural earnings, and financial support from his family. Yet he refused his responsibility towards his children. She further said that the wife, in contrast, has a meagre income and struggles to meet the financial needs of her children.

To this, the husband argued that his wife was employed and earning, but the court found this claim insufficient. Magistrate Shinde noted that her income was minimal and incapable of covering her and the children’s expenses. The court also took into account the husband’s income and the evident neglect of his responsibilities.

The court then ordered the husband to pay Rs 20,000 monthly as alimony to his wife, explicitly for the children’s education and maintenance. Furthermore, he was barred from abusing or harassing his wife, whether at her mother’s house or in public spaces. The judgement also prohibited the husband from taking custody of the children without prior court approval.