“Agar wo khud kama rahi hai, toh main paise kyun doon?”
Yeh sawaal aajkal har uss husband ke dimaag mein aata hai jiska divorce case chal raha hai. Doosri taraf, patni sochti hai, “Meri salary toh bas basic kharche ke liye hai, kya mujhe apna haq nahi milega?”
The Short Answer: Kya working wife ko maintenance milta hai? Ji Haan (Yes).
Lekin… isme “Conditions” apply hoti hain. Sirf job hone ka matlab ye nahi ki maintenance ka right khatam ho gaya. Court ye dekhta hai ki kya wo utna kama rahi hai jitna wo sasural mein aish-o-aaram (lifestyle) se rehti thi.
The Solution: Rules for Working Wife (For the Common Man)
Indian Courts ka nazariya ab badal raha hai. Yahan simple points mein samjhein ki faisla kaise hota hai:
1. Status & Lifestyle Matters (Rahan-Sahan)
Law kehta hai ki patni ko waisa hi life jeene ka haq hai jaisa wo apne husband ke saath jeeti thi.
- Agar husband lakhon kama raha hai aur wife ki salary bas guzara karne layak hai, toh Difference Amount husband ko dena padega.
2. “Capable of Earning” vs “Actually Earning”
- Case A: Wife qualified hai (e.g., MBA/Doctor) par jaanboojh kar ghar baithi hai taaki maintenance mile.
- Result: Court maintenance kam kar sakta hai ya mana kar sakta hai.
- Case B: Wife job kar rahi hai, par salary bahut kam hai.
- Result: Husband ko support dena padega taaki income gap bhar sake.
Also Read : Mutual Divorce Kaise Le? Procedure, Alimony Rules & Documents Checklist.
3. Quantum of Maintenance (Kitna Paisa?)
Generally, Supreme Court ke guidelines ke hisaab se husband ki Net Income ka 25% hissa patni aur bachon ko milta hai.
- Agar wife kama rahi hai, toh court ye calculation karega:(Husband ki Income + Wife ki Income) ÷ Total Family Members.
4. Child Support Alag Hai (Bachon ka Kharcha)
Patni kama rahi ho ya nahi, Bachon ki zimmedari (Child Support) husband ko uthani hi padegi. Isme koi chhoot nahi milti.
Legal References (For Law Students)
“Law is based on logic, not just emotion.”
Agar aap law student hain, toh ye Sections aur Judgments apne exam ya arguments mein zaroor use karein:
| Act/Section | Relevance |
| Section 125, CrPC (Now Sec 144 BNSS) | Provides for maintenance to wives, children, and parents (Secular law). |
| Section 24, Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 | Interim Maintenance (Case chalne ke dauran kharcha). |
| Section 25, Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 | Permanent Alimony (Divorce ke baad final settlement). |
Landmark Judgments (Must Cite):
- Rajnesh v. Neha (2020): Supreme Court ka sabse bada faisla. Isme court ne kaha ki husband aur wife dono ko “Affidavit of Assets and Liabilities” file karna hoga. Sach chhupana ab mushkil hai.
- Bhagwan Dutt v. Kamla Devi: Supreme Court ne kaha ki wife ki income consider ki jayegi maintenance decide karte waqt, lekin sirf job hone se maintenance ka right khatam nahi hota.
Practical Tips (The ‘Advocate’s Advice’)
As your legal mentor, yahan kuch andar ki baatein hain (Insider Tips):
- Bank Statement Jhooth Nahi Bolti: Husband ho ya Wife, agar aap court mein income kam dikha rahe hain par bank statement mein heavy transactions hain, toh aap phasenge.
- “Affidavit of Assets” Dhyan se Bharein: Rajnesh v. Neha judgment ke baad, aapko apni har choti-badi property, loan, aur kharche ki details deni padti hain. Galat jaankari dene par Perjury (Jhoothi gawah) ka case ho sakta hai.
- Husbands ke liye Tip: Agar wife qualified hai aur pehle kaam karti thi, toh uske purane offer letters ya salary slips sambhal kar rakhein. Ye prove karne mein kaam aayega ki wo “Capable of Earning” hai.
- Wives ke liye Tip: Agar salary kam hai, toh clearly dikhayein ki rent, travel aur medical ke baad aapke paas kuch nahi bachta.
FAQ Section (Log Google par kya puchte hain?)
Q1: Agar wife mujhse zyada kamati hai, toh kya mujhe maintenance dena hoga?
A: Nahi. Agar wife ki income husband se zyada hai, toh generally husband ko maintenance dene ki zaroorat nahi hoti. Balki kuch cases mein (under HMA), husband bhi wife se maintenance maang sakta hai (agar wo physically/mentally disable ho).
Q2: Kya main job chhod doon taaki mujhe zyada maintenance mile?
A: Yeh galti mat karna. Courts ab smart hain. Agar judge ko laga ki aapne jaanboojh kar job chhodi hai, toh wo “Notional Income” jod kar maintenance kam kar denge.
Q3: Maintenance kab tak dena padta hai?
A: Jab tak patni doosri shaadi (Remarriage) nahi kar leti, ya jab tak wo khud financially independent nahi ho jaati.
Disclaimer & Conclusion
The information provided above is for general awareness and does not constitute formal legal advice. Har case ke facts alag hote hain.
Final Word: “Working” hona ek gunaah nahi hai, aur na hi maintenance maangna bheekh hai. Law bas Financial Balance banata hai. Agar aap sach bolenge, toh court aapke saath hai.
Apne case ka calculation samajhna chahte hain? Neeche comment karein.
About the Author
Advocate Yogesh Solanki (B.A. LL.B)
Senior Legal Mentor @ DuoCounsel
Advocate Yogesh Solanki ek experienced District Court lawyer hain jo Family Law aur Civil Matters mein expert hain. DuoCounsel ke Senior Mentor hone ke naate, unka mission hai legal procedures ko simple Hindi/English mein aam logon tak pahunchana.
“Sahi legal jaankari hi aapki sabse badi taakat hai.”