In Brief
A husband appealed against a High Court order directing him to pay his estranged wife Rs.60,000 per month as interim maintenance (pendente lite) pending divorce proceedings. The wife, who was unemployed at the time of filing for maintenance, had sought the amount. The Supreme Court held that while the wife was entitled to maintenance as she lacked independent income, the quantum was excessive. The Court reduced the maintenance from Rs.60,000 to Rs.25,000 per month (in addition to Rs.10,000 already being paid). The Court emphasised that a person's education does not preclude maintenance claims, and judicial discretion in such matters must be guided by sound matrimonial law principles without examining case merits."
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