Man to pay Rs 2.7L monthly alimony to wife who left career

New Delhi, PTI: A Delhi court has awarded an alimony of Rs 2.7 lakh a month to a woman who left a lucrative career in show business to be a housewife in 2000.

The court made the judgement after having taken note of the uncertain nature of the film industry and the difficulties she may face regained a foothold there.

Additional Sessions Judge A K Kuhara allowed the woman's appeal seeking enhancement of maintenance in a domestic violence case lodged against her husband and raised the amount from Rs 1.7 lakh to Rs 2.7 lakh per month.

The court noted in its recent ruling that she was a filmmaker who had studied in the US and it was not easy for her to revive her career as she had stayed away from her profession for 17 years.

"It is an admitted fact that appellant has done a course in filmmaking from the United States of America. She got married to the respondent (husband) in the year 2000 and since then she is not working," the judge said.

Her qualification can be utilised only in the film industry which offers a "very uncertain career" and works on the principle of "out of sight, out of mind", he said.

"To regain her foothold in the film industry will not be an easy task, considering the mental state she must be in after her marriage broke," he said.

The court also observed that a woman should not be dependent on a man for survival but at times even a working woman is devastated when her marriage crumbles.

It referred to gender equality in society and expectations that a woman should not be dependent on a man for her survival and sustenance, particularly when she has "capacity" to make her own living.

The court also rejected the husband's contention that his wife had committed adultery, saying the matter was subjudice before a competent court and it was only an allegation which was not proved yet.

In her complaint, the woman had said that her husband and mother-in-law inflicted extreme torture.

She sought maintenance and accommodation allowance claiming her husband's annual income was over Rs 60 lakh.

The husband, however, claimed innocence and contended that the woman was a qualified woman who has been working in film industry and was competent to earn her livelihood.