The Delhi High Court dismissed a husband’s appeal against his contempt conviction, holding that ongoing settlement negotiations cannot excuse non-compliance with binding court orders. The Court upheld directions concerning his passport and reaffirmed the obligation to fulfil maintenance-related financial responsibilities pending resolution of disputes.
The Karnataka High Court ruled that maintenance cannot be granted to wives automatically without examining financial circumstances. Justice Chillakur Sumalatha said courts must consider income, independence and responsibilities of both spouses before passing orders, setting aside a direction requiring a husband to pay Rs 20,000 monthly.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court held that a father’s obligation toward his daughters includes funding higher education and not merely providing basic maintenance. Stressing that women empowerment must be implemented in practice, the Court directed payment of Rs 46.26 lakh towards the daughters’ medical and engineering education expenses.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court held that a woman married during childhood cannot be denied reasonable maintenance, observing that she was victimised first by child marriage and later by being awarded a meagre maintenance amount. The Court emphasised the need to protect the rights and dignity of women.
The Allahabad High Court held that a mother’s alleged remarriage cannot defeat the independent statutory right of minor children to claim maintenance from their biological father, reaffirming that a father’s obligation to maintain his children continues regardless of matrimonial disputes or changes in the mother’s marital status.