Bombay High Court Upholds ₹15,000 Monthly Maintenance for Working Wife Citing Income Disparity

The Bombay High Court, on June 18, 2025, upheld a Family Court order directing a husband to pay ₹15,000 per month as interim maintenance to his wife, despite her earning approximately ₹19,000 a month. Justice Manjusha Deshpande noted that mere employment is not a valid ground to deny maintenance when there is a substantial income gap between the spouses.

The Court observed that the husband earns over ₹1 lakh per month, and despite the wife’s modest income and small interest from fixed deposits, she remains financially dependent. The Court reaffirmed that under matrimonial laws, maintenance ensures the dependent spouse can maintain a standard of living comparable to that during the marriage.


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Judgment Date: June 18, 2025
Maintenance Ordered: ₹15,000/month
Wife’s Income: ~₹19,000/month
Husband’s Income: ₹1 lakh+/month