In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has clarified that alimony cannot be used as a tool to equalize wealth between spouses, reinforcing that a Hindu marriage is a sacrament, not a commercial venture. A bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Pankaj Mithal underscored concerns over the misuse of penal laws in matrimonial disputes, stating that maintenance is meant to provide financial support, not serve as a lifelong entitlement tied to a spouse’s financial success.
Court Rejects ₹500 Crore Alimony Demand
The ruling stemmed from a dispute between a couple married in July 2021. The husband, a US-based IT consultant, sought divorce due to irretrievable breakdown of marriage, while the wife demanded at least ₹500 crore—equivalent to the settlement his first wife had received.
The court dismissed this argument, stating:
- Alimony is meant to ensure dignity and sufficiency, not wealth redistribution.
- A husband’s financial success post-separation should not impose an indefinite burden on him.
- It questioned whether the wife would seek equalization if the husband became financially destitute after separation.
Misuse of Laws in Matrimonial Disputes
The court also addressed the misuse of legal provisions, warning that women must not use protective laws as a means to chastise, threaten, or extort from their husbands. Justice Nagarathna criticized the wife’s contradictory stance—claiming to be a dutiful wife while also initiating criminal proceedings, securing a Look Out Circular, and even getting the husband arrested.
This verdict reinforces the principle that while alimony is essential for dependent spouses, it cannot be a means of financial opportunism or punishment in matrimonial disputes.
