Maintenance · 31 March 2026
Maintenance Denied to Earning Wife; Termed "Attempt to Extract Pound of Flesh"
High Court of Madhya Pradesh · 2026 SCC OnLine MP 5790
The wife earned ₹1.25 Lakhs to ₹1.66 Lakhs per month through her employment and had no children or dependents to maintain. She sought interim maintenance pendente lite under Section 24 HMA from her husband, whose earning capacity was comparable to hers.
The High Court held that Section 24 HMA is not intended to enable a financially self-sufficient spouse to extract money from the other. The Court strictly observed that the wife's maintenance petition was "an attempt to extract a pound of flesh from the husband," which cannot be permitted when there is no financial disparity.
Relevant provisions: Section 24, Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 / Section 125 CrPC
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