The Supreme Court of India witnessed a sharp exchange in a matrimonial dispute, as a Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta found a husband’s claim of earning Rs 9,000 monthly and inability to pay higher alimony “difficult to swallow”.
Challenging the “idle wife” notion, the Delhi High Court held that a homemaker’s contributions enable the earning spouse’s success and cannot be ignored in maintenance decisions. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said non-employment does not imply idleness or deliberate financial dependence.
