In a recent ruling, the Karnataka High Court emphasised the responsibility of childcare as it doubled the interim maintenance payable to a woman in a matrimonial dispute. Justice M. Nagaprasanna, presiding over the case, dismissed the husband's contention that his wife was idling away despite being capable of employment. Instead, the court recognised the exhaustive duties of a mother in nurturing children, describing it as a full-time commitment.
The judgment, dated February 28, highlighted the sacrifices made by the wife in leaving her job to care for their children and rejected the notion that her role was merely to sustain their existence. Consequently, the court increased the interim maintenance payable to the woman from ₹18,000 to ₹36,000.
During the proceedings, the woman's counsel, advocate B.R. Srinivasa Gowda, presented evidence illustrating the husband's substantial income and his failure to adequately provide for their children's needs. Despite arguments put forth by the husband's counsel, advocate Anil R, regarding the uncertainty of the husband's job and the wife's prior employment, the court upheld the woman's decision to prioritise childcare. It emphasised that maintenance should reflect the standard of living they had while together.
The court dismissed the husband's claims about job instability, noting his secure position at Canara Bank and rejecting the notion that he couldn't afford higher maintenance.
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