Delhi HC denies maintenance to educated woman, says law ensures equality, not idleness

The Delhi High Court has ruled that educated women with earning potential should not seek interim maintenance from their husbands, emphasizing that the law does not encourage idleness. The ruling came on March 19, 2025, as the court dismissed a woman’s plea against a trial court order that had earlier denied her request for financial support from her estranged husband.

Justice Chandra Dhari Singh, while delivering the verdict, referred to Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which mandates maintenance for wives, children, and parents but is not meant to support individuals who are capable of earning. He stated that a well-educated woman with work experience should not remain unemployed solely to receive maintenance from her husband.

The court further urged the woman to actively seek employment and become self-sufficient. It highlighted that unlike uneducated women who are fully dependent on their spouses, the petitioner had wide exposure and awareness of worldly affairs, making her capable of sustaining herself independently.

The case involved a couple who got married in December 2019 and moved to Singapore. The woman claimed that she was subjected to cruelty by her husband and his family, forcing her to return to India in February 2021. She further alleged that she had to sell her jewelry to finance her return and, due to financial hardships, had been residing with her maternal uncle.

In June 2021, she filed a petition for maintenance, arguing that she was unemployed and had no independent source of income, while her husband was earning handsomely and leading an affluent lifestyle. The trial court rejected her plea, prompting her to approach the Delhi High Court, which upheld the earlier decision, ruling that she had the capacity to earn.

The court’s verdict has sparked discussions on the evolving interpretation of alimony laws, particularly regarding financially capable spouses. The judgment reinforces the principle of self-reliance, ensuring that maintenance laws are used to support genuine cases rather than enabling dependency where economic independence is possible.