Woman hides source of income, court revokes support order

New Delhi:

A session court here dismissed a district court order directing a husband to pay a monthly maintenance of Rs 15,000 to his wife, holding that the wife had not disclosed her true income.

Additional Sessions Judge Aanchal was hearing two appeals filed by the couple. While the husband challenged the court’s April 2023 order, the wife sought to increase the alimony to Rs 1.25 lakh.

The district court had passed the order on a petition filed by the wife under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.

The court noted the available evidence that the wife, who had an MBA, had concealed the fact that she had sufficient income to cover expenses and maintain her life.

“Therefore, once the fact that the wife has concealed her source of income is brought on record, the court can neither draw (the inference) that the wife is working and earning money in other ways and is unable to maintain herself, nor can it conclude that she is living in a lower status than her accustomed position in the matrimonial home,” the court said.

An order passed on April 5 added that, therefore, the husband cannot be directed to pay her maintenance to enable her to maintain a specified standard of living.

“This court therefore holds that the wife is not entitled to alimony for failure to disclose her true circumstances and income,” the judge said.

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