Indian woman wins maintenance from estranged father
The Bombay High Court has ordered an Indian man to pay 500,000 rupees (5 lakh or £6000) to his 28 year old daughter, more than two decades after he divorced her mother.
The woman had appealed an earlier family court dismissal of her claim for financial help under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act. She was seeking help with education and marriage expenses while she trains to be an chartered accountant. Her father, a bank manager, had refused assistance, saying he was close to retirement and had to help his two children from his second marriage.
But the Bombay High Court rejected his plea, saying the man was “was aware of hardships faced by a girl child in today’s world when she has no support, moral or financial, from the family.”
The woman’s parents married in 1983 and she had lived with her mother after their divorce. She told the court that her father had not seen her since 1990. Justices Naresh Patil and AR Joshi noted in their judgement that:
“The appellant and her mother have no means of earning and they have to borrow money from relatives. Considering the high cost of living, it is difficult to look after herself.”
They continued:
“Even for marriage, suitable qualifications are looked at, as also her capacity to bear marriage expenses. She has no answers to these issues…she is practically penniless.”
Photo of the Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai by Humayunn Peerzaada via Wikipedia under a Creative Commons licence
|
Share this post
|
Get free family law updates
|
Marilyn Stowe’s new book: expert advice on all aspects of divorce, from just 99p!
Divorce & Splitting Up by Marilyn Stowe is the essential how-to book for anyone who is getting divorced or splitting up from a partner. Read more >>
"A must buy that really opens your eyes to what is involved if you are considering or going through a divorce." - Amanda Brown
"This will answer your questions in a way that non-lawyers can understand." - Miss P.
"Don't get divorced without it. I read this book despite being divorced for more than 10 years. I wish I'd had this book to hand at the time. Great examples, simple to read and understand." - Jamie
"This really has helped me to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel and I will come out of it a stronger person." - J
Awards
IAML
