{"id":3369,"date":"2014-07-18T12:43:00","date_gmt":"2014-07-18T12:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wakilsahab.in\/news\/wife-to-pay-20000-maintenance-to-husband-u-s24-hindu-marriage-act-delhi-high-court\/"},"modified":"2014-07-18T12:43:00","modified_gmt":"2014-07-18T12:43:00","slug":"wife-to-pay-20000-maintenance-to-husband-u-s24-hindu-marriage-act-delhi-high-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wakilsahab.in\/news\/wife-to-pay-20000-maintenance-to-husband-u-s24-hindu-marriage-act-delhi-high-court\/","title":{"rendered":"Wife to pay 20,000\/- maintenance to Husband u\/s24 Hindu Marriage Act- Delhi High court"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI<\/div>\n

+ CM(M) 169\/2009<\/p>\n

Judgment Delivered on: 31.03.2011<\/em><\/strong>
RANI SETHI \u2026.. Petitioner             Through : Mr. G.K. Sharma, Adv.
versus
SUNIL SETHI \u2026.. Respondent      Through : Mr. B.P. Singh, Adv.
CORAM:
HON\u2019BLE MR. JUSTICE G.S.SISTANI <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Whether the Reporters of local papers may be allowed to seethe judgment? Yes<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. To be referred to Reporter or not? Yes<\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? Yes<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    G.S.SISTANI, J. (<\/strong>ORAL<\/em><\/strong>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Present petition is directed against the order dated 24.2.2009 passed by learned Additional District Judge, Delhi, on an application filed by respondent (husband) under Section 24 of Hindu Marriage Act, seeking maintenance from the petitioner (wife). By the abovesaid order, trial court has directed the petitioner (wife) to pay maintenance to the respondent (husband) @ `20,000\/-, per month, and `10,000\/- as litigation expenses and also to provide Zen Car for the use of the respondent (husband).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that learned trial court has exceeded its jurisdiction and has erroneously come to a finding with regard to the income of the petitioner. While it is not in dispute that petitioner is carrying out the business of running paying guest hostels in the name of Pradise PG, it is submitted by counsel for the
      petitioner that the trial court has failed to consider the expenses of running the business which includes providing the students with boarding, lodging and transportation facilities and the earnings from the business are barely sufficient to maintain herself and her
      two children, whom she is solely supporting. It is further contended that the financial condition of the petitioner has been ignored by the trial court. Counsel next submits that in fact the financial condition of the petitioner would be evident from the fact that petitioner is residing in a rented accommodation and is paying rent @ `12,500\/-, per month. Mr.Sharma submits that trial court has completely lost sight of the fact that petitioner has to maintain and provide for two unmarried children \u2013 one son, who is 26 years of age, and a daughter, who is 24 years of age. Counsel next submits that petitioner has to not only provide for their maintenance but also plan their marriages and ensure a secured future for the children. Besides petitioner has to look after herself. It is further submitted that petitioner is medically unfit and is suffering from  Leucoderma and arthritis and she has to spend on doctors, medicines and other tests. Copies of medical prescriptions have been placed on record in support of her contention.
      3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that even otherwise the respondent is an able bodied person and he is in a position to maintain himself. Counsel further submits that respondent is carrying on a business in the name and style of Sethi Contractor
      and accordingly the respondent is not entitled to any maintenance. A copy of the visiting card of Sethi Contractor has been placed on record. Stress has also been laid by counsel for the petitioner on the conduct and character of the respondent. Various instances have been cited in the present petition by the petitioner to show that respondent has an immoral character. It is also contended that learned trial court has relied purely on the guess work to assess the income of the petitioner and, thus, the impugned order is liable to be set aside.
      4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner has subsequently been able to lay her hands on documents to show that respondent is earning and is able to maintain himself, however, the documents were neither filed along with this petition
      nor the same were filed before the trial court at the relevant time. However, it is submitted by counsel for the petitioner that an application has already been moved before the trial court for modification of the impugned order and the petitioner will rely upon those documents before the trial court.
      5. Learned counsel for the respondent submits that despite the fact that the business was set up by the respondent and the petitioner together initially, out of the funds received from selling ancestral property of the respondent, and the business is making a good profit, the trial court has been extremely conservative in granting only `20,000\/-, per month, as maintenance, for the respondent. Counsel further submits that in the affidavit filed by the respondent on 20.1.2009 before the trial court, the respondent has enlisted the assets of the business, which are reproduced below:
      (a) 300 room on rent fully equipped and furnished with double bed 18000\u00d7300.00
      (b) Taa Bus 1.50 Seaters 54 lacs
      (c) One Tata Winger (9+1) 8 lacs
      (d) Three Maruti Vans 6 lacs
      (e) One Maruti Zen 3 lacs
      (f) One Accent Viva Car 4 lacs
      (g) One Mess kitchen Modular with all apparatus, uttencils, equipments, etc. sufficient for 600 inmates
      along with all other required faculties 8 lacs
      (h) One Modern Zim with all equipments 2 lacs
      (i) One General Store with stock 2 lacs
      (j) One Cyber Caf\u00e9 with four computers and other necessary equipments 1 \u00bd lacs
      (k) House-hold articles including laptop, Fridge, Air Conditioners (3), Two LCD TVs, etc. Three bed rooms
      fully equipped with one drawing room and kitchen with jewellery articles common family ornaments,
      ancestral, etc. 20 lacs
      6. It is submitted by counsel for the respondent that a perusal of the abovementioned assets of the business would show that petitioner is running a flourishing business. It is further submitted that the assets of the business, business investments and other personal assets owned by the petitioner would give some idea of the status of the petitioner. It is next submitted that petitioner had filed an additional affidavit before the trial court where she had herself admitted that she is running business in the name and style of Paradise Hostel for the purposes of which she has taken 81 flats in two societies on rent, for which she is paying `5,07,000\/- as rent;`65,800\/- as maintenance + electricity and other expenses towards hostel, bus payments, etc. Petitioner has also admitted in the additional affidavit that she is paying `25,000\/-, per month, towards
      house keeping; `48,000\/-, per month, towards kitchen expenses; `50,000\/- towards the salary of drivers, electrician, plumbers, etc; `2,50,000\/-, per month, towards Hostel\u201fs Ration, Grocery Expenditure, for a strength of 386 students.
      7. Learned counsel for the respondent submits that respondent was
      unceremoniously thrown out of his house and it is only by the order
      of the court that few articles were returned, which have been
      noticed by the trial court in para 12 of its order. Relevant portion of
      which reads as under:
      \u201c\u2026 an application in the Court for taking his clothes and
      chapels lying at the house of the non applicant and the non
      applicant has given only two pairs of pants and shirts, one
      kurta paijama, three bainyans, two underwears and one pair
      of chappals and two sweaters in the court on 21.1.2009 and
      other articles of the applicant mentioned in his application
      have not yet been given by the non-applicant\/ wife.\u201d
      8. It is next submitted that the respondent tried setting up another
      business and starting life afresh. However, the business was
      unsuccessful and the partnership which was entered into for the
      purpose of business was dissolved on 1.12.2009. The respondent
      has placed a copy of the dissolution of partnership deed dated
      1.12.2009 in support of his contention. Counsel further submits
      that there is no infirmity in the order of the trial court, which would
      CM(M)NO.169\/2009<\/span> <\/em><\/strong>Page 6 of 14<\/em><\/strong>
      call for interference in the proceedings under Article 227 of the
      Constitution of India.
      9. I have heard counsel for the parties, who have also drawn the attention of the Court to various documents placed on record as also the affidavits filed by both the parties before the trial court. In this case, the undisputed facts, which emerge, are that marriage between parties was solemnized on 6.12.1982. A son, who is at present 26 years of age, and a daughter, who is at present 24 years, were born out of their wedlock. Admittedly, the parties started residing separately since September, 2006, and thereafter with the intervention of friends and relations, the petitioner and respondent stayed together for a brief period in the matrimonial home, however, the parties again separated on 6.9.2008. Allegation of the respondent is that he was thrown out of the matrimonial home, which prima facie <\/em>appears to be correct as few of his articles were handed over to him on 20.1.2009 in the Court, as observed by the trial court.
      10. It is settled position of law that the law makes provision to strike a balance between the standard of living, status and luxuries that were enjoyed by a spouse in the matrimonial home and after separation. It has been held by the Apex Court that the needs of the parties, capacity to pay etc. must be taken into account while deciding quantum of maintenance.
      11. In the case of Jasbir Kaur Sehgal (Smt.) v. District Judge, Dehradun & Others<\/em><\/strong>, reported at (1997) 7 Supreme Court Cases 7, it has been held as under:
      \u201c8. The wife has no fixed abode of residence. She says she is living in a Gurudwara with her eldest daughter for safety. On the other hand the husband has sufficient income and a house to himself. The Wife has not claimed any litigation expenses in this appeal. She is aggrieved only because of the paltry amount of maintenance fixed by the courts. No set formula can be laid for fixing the amount of maintenance. It has, in the very nature of things, to depend on the facts and circumstance of each case. Some scope for liverage can, however, be always there. Court has to consider the status of the parties, their respective needs, capacity of the husband to pay having regard to his reasonable expenses for his own maintenance and of those he is obliged under the law and statutory but involuntary payments or deductions. The amount of maintenance fixed for the wife should be such as she can live in reasonable comfort considering her status and the mode of life she was used to when she lived with her husband and also that she does not feel handicapped in the prosecution of her case. At the same time, the amount so fixed cannot be excessive or extortionate. In the circumstances of the present case we fix maintenance pendente lite at the rate of Rs.5,000\/- per month payable by respondent-husband to the appellant-wife.<\/em>\u201d
      12. A Single Judge of this Court in the case of Bharat Hegde v. Saroj Hegde<\/em><\/strong>, reported at 140 (2007) DLT 16, had culled out following 11 factors, which can be taken into consideration for deciding the application under Section 24 of Hindu Marriage Act, relevant portion of which reads as under:
      8. Unfortunately, in India, parties do not truthfully reveal their income. For self employed persons or persons employed in the unorganized sector, truthful income never surfaces. Tax avoidance is the norm. Tax compliance is the exception in this country. Therefore, in determining the interim maintenance, there cannot be mathematical exactitude. The court has to take a general view. From the various judicial precedents, the under noted 11 factors can be culled out, which are to be taken into consideration while deciding an application under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act. The same are:
      (1) Status of the parties.
      (2) Reasonable wants of the claimant.
      (3) The independent income and property of the claimant.
      (4) The number of persons, the non applicant has to maintain.
      (5) The amount should aid the applicant to live in a similar life style as he\/she enjoyed in the matrimonial home.
      (6) Non-applicant\u201fs liabilities, if any.
      (7) Provisions for food, clothing, shelter, education, medical attendance and treatment etc. of the applicant.
      (8) Payment capacity of the non-applicant.
      (9) Some guess work is not ruled out while estimating the income of the non-applicant when all the sources or correct sources are not disclosed.
      (10) The non-applicant to defray the cost of litigation.
      (11) The amount awarded under Section 125, Cr.P.C. is adjustable against the amount awarded under Section 24 of the Act.
      13. The Supreme Court of India in the case of Jasbir Kaur (Smt.) <\/em><\/strong>(supra), has also recognized the fact that spouses in the proceedings for maintenance do not truthfully disclose their true income and therefore some guess work on the part of the Court is permissible. Further the Supreme Court has also observed that \u201cconsidering the diverse claims made by the parties one inflating the income and the other suppressing an element of conjecture and guess work does enter for arriving at the income of the husband. It cannot be done by any mathematical precision<\/em>\u201d.
      14. Further in a recent decision the Apex Court in Neeta Rakesh Jain v. Rakesh Jeetmal Jain <\/em><\/strong>reported at AIR 2010 SC 3540, has laid guidelines which the courts may keep in mind at the time of fixing the quantum of maintenance.
      \u201c<\/em><\/strong>In other words, in the matter of making an order for interim maintenance, the discretion of the court must be guided by the criterion provided in the Section, namely, the means of the parties and also after taking into account incidental and other relevant factors like social status; the background from which both the parties come from and the economical dependence of the petitioner. Since an order for interim maintenance by its very nature is temporary, a detailed and elaborate exercise by the court may not be necessary, but, at the same time, the court has got to take all the relevant factors into account and arrive at a proper amount having regard to the factors which are mentioned in the statute\u201d.<\/em>
      15. While, in this case, petitioner has placed copies of income tax returns for the assessment years 2007-2008 on record, a copy of balance sheet as on 31.3.2007 as also a copy of Profit and Loss Account for the year ended as on 31.3.2007, have also been placed on record. The Profit and Loss Account of the guest house of the petitioner reads as under: \u201cPARADISE PG HOUSE PROP. MRS. RANI SETHI B-75, DUGGAL COLONYKHANPUR, NEW DELHI \u2013 110062 PROFIT & LOSS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED ON 31.03.2007 PARTICULARS AMOUNT PARICULARS AMOUNT<\/strong>
      To Establishment 695900.00 By Receipts 8380178.00
      To Rent for Flats 3191660.00
      \u201d Mess Expenses 1521958.00
      \u201d Electricity & Water 295800.00
      \u201d Bank Charges 39870.63
      \u201d Staff Welfare 51270.00
      \u201d Transportation 478756.00
      \u201dTelephone Expenses 229234.00
      \u201d Vehicle Running & Maintenance 252859.93
      \u201d Hire Charges 121000.00
      \u201d Bedsheets & Lined 152540.00
      \u201d Medicines & Doctor\u201fs Fee 24128.00
      \u201d Printing & Stationery 42190.00
      \u201d Travelling & Conveyance 44262.00
      \u201d Insurance 15078.00
      \u201d Misc. Expenses 37383.00
      \u201d Security Expenses 164500.00
      \u201d Repair & Maintenance 286856.00
      \u201d Interest on Car Loan Amount
      Written Off
      24571.72
      \u201d Amount written Off
      \u201d Audit Fee 23697.00
      \u201d Depreciation 16200.00
      \u201d Net Profit transferred to Capital 191222.07
      8380178.00 8380178.00
      16. A perusal of the Profit and Loss Account shows that this business is
      incurring a profit of `83,80178\/- for the year ending on 31.3.2007.
      17. The affidavits filed by both the petitioner and the respondent
      before the trial court also unfold the details of the business, which
      was initially being carried out by both the petitioner and the
      respondent and subsequently admittedly by the wife along.
      Relevant portion of the affidavit of the respondent reads as under:
      \u201cAffidavit of Sunil Sethi s\/o late J.N. Sethi R\/o A-43, Street No.10<\/span>, Madhu<\/em>
      Vihar, I.P. Extension, Delhi-110092 (however presently without any<\/em>
      accommodation).<\/em>
      I the above-named deponent do hereby solemnly affirm on oath and state<\/em>
      as under:-<\/em>
      1. I say that being petitioner in the above mentioned case, I am<\/em>
      entitled to swear the present affidavit.<\/em>
      2. I say that the respondent is proprietor of M\/s Paradise P.G. House<\/em>
      Informative Society, Sector-VI, Greater Noida, (U.P.).<\/em>
      3. That the said firm established by me and started with the capital<\/em>
      investment of Rs.8,00,000\/- in the year of 2003 which I had got<\/em>
      from my share in my ancestral\/parental property.<\/em>
      4. I say that the total asset of the said firm owned by the respondent<\/em>
      is about Rs.1,00,000\/- approximately. This assessment is dated<\/em>
      05.09.08 when I forced to leave the business.<\/em>
      5. I say that asset of the respondent\u2019s firm as on 05.09.08 were as<\/em>
      under:-<\/em>
      S. Particulars Approx.<\/em><\/strong>
      CM(M)NO.169\/2009<\/span> <\/em><\/strong>Page 11 of 14<\/em><\/strong>
      No. value<\/em><\/strong>
      (in Rs.)<\/em><\/strong>
      1. 300 room on rent fully equipped and<\/em>
      furnished with double bed<\/em>
      18000\u00d7300.00<\/em>
      54 lacs<\/em>
      2. Tata Bus 1.50 Seaters<\/em>
      17 lacs<\/em>
      3. One Tata Winger (9+1 seater)<\/em>
      8 lacs<\/em>
      4. Three Maruti Vans<\/em>
      6 Lacs<\/em>
      5. One Maruti Zen<\/em>
      3 Lacs<\/em>
      6. One Accent Viva Car<\/em>
      4 lacs<\/em>
      7. One Mess Kitchen Modular with all apparatus, utensil, equipments etc.sufficient for 600 inmates along with all other required facilities 8 lacs<\/em>
      8. One Modern Zim with all equipments2 lacs<\/em>
      9. On General Store with stock 2 lacs<\/em>
      10. One Cyber Cafe with four computers<\/em>
      and other necessary equipments<\/em>
      1 \u00bd lacs<\/em>
      11. House-hold articles including Laptop,<\/em>
      Fridge, Air Conditions (3), Two LCD TVs<\/em>
      etc. Three bed rooms fully equipped<\/em>
      with one drawing room and kitchen with<\/em>
      jewellery articles common family<\/em>
      ornaments, ancestral etc.<\/em>
      20 lacs<\/em>
      6. I say that on 05.05.08, the liability over the firm namely M\/s Paradise<\/em>
      was namely Rs.15,00,000<\/span>\/- approx.<\/em>\u201d
      18. The petitioner herein also filed her affidavit before the trial court.
      Affidavit of petitioner reads as under:
      \u201cI, Rani Sethi w\/o Mr. Sunil Sethi r\/o Rajdhani Nikunj, Plot no.94<\/span>, I.P.<\/em>
      Extension, Patparganj, Delhi do hereby solemnly affirm on and declare as<\/em>
      under:<\/em>
      A. \u2026\u2026\u2026<\/em>
      B. That following are the details of the monthly expenditure incurred by<\/em>
      me in my business of running Paradise Hostel.<\/em>
      i. That I have hired on rent 50 and 31 flats respectively in two<\/em>
      societies namely informatics and Khushboo whose details<\/em>
      are as follows:<\/em>
      Rent of Flats Maintenance Electricity Bills<\/em>
      Informatics Rs.2,59,000\/- Rs.34,800<\/span>\/- +Electivity Bills<\/em>
      Khusboo Rs.2,48,000\/- Rs.31,000<\/span>\/- +Electivity Bills<\/em>
      CM(M)NO.169\/2009<\/span> <\/em><\/strong>Page 12 of 14<\/em><\/strong>
      Total Rent Rs.5,07,000\/- Rs.65,800<\/span>\/- +Electivity<\/em><\/strong>
      Bills<\/em><\/strong>
      C. That the expenditure incurred and the monthly installments due for<\/em>
      the following are as under:<\/em>
      Hotel Bus EMI-22,216\/- PER per month + 9 Lakh<\/em>
      invested in Bus down payment.<\/em>
      Winger\u2019s EMI-10,450\/- per month + 2,60,000\/-<\/em>
      down payment<\/em>
      Viva\u2019s EMI-10209\/- per month<\/em>
      Zen\u2019s EMI-10,540\/- per month<\/em>
      Van\u2019s EMI-17,365\/- per month<\/em>
      Total EMI-71,365\/- per month<\/em>
      D. Staff Salary \u2013 Home Keeping 25,000\/- per month<\/em>
      Kitchen 48,000\/- per month<\/em>
      Drivers and electrician<\/em>
      Total Salary of Staff 1,23,000\/- per month<\/em><\/strong>
      Hostel\u2019s Ration + Grocery Exp.+ Snacks item etc. 2,50,000\/- per month<\/em>
      for 386 strength of students<\/em>
      Maintenance Exp. 30,000\/- per month<\/em>
      Diesel for Bus 25,000\/- per month<\/em>
      Diesel for Generator- Informatics 38,800\/- per month<\/em>
      Khushboo 19,400\/- per month<\/em>
      House rent 12,500\/- per month<\/em>
      House Maintenance 15,000\/- per month+Electricity bill<\/em>
      Transport charge of hostel 27,000\/- per month<\/em>
      Three buses on hire<\/em>
      E. That it is also submitted that session starts in August of every month.<\/em>\u201d
      19. Taking into consideration the documents, which have been filed on
      record of this court and the affidavit of the petitioner, the balance
      sheet, the Profit and Loss Account of the guest house and the
      income and expenditure of the guest house, it is clear that the
      CM(M)NO.169\/2009<\/span> <\/em><\/strong>Page 13 of 14<\/em><\/strong>
      petitioner has a substantial income from the business, which was at
      one time started jointly by both the petitioner and the respondent.
      The purpose of section 24 of Hindu Marriage Act is to provide
      support to a spouse who has no independent source of income and
      is incapable of maintaining himself\/herself. It is trite law that the
      term \u201esupport<\/em>\u201f is not to be construed in a narrow manner so as to
      mean bare subsistence. It means that the other spouse, who has no
      independent source of income, is provided with such maintenance
      so as to live in a similar status as was enjoyed by them in their
      matrimonial home. It is the purpose of section 24 that the wife or
      the husband who has no sufficient source of income for her or his
      support or for the expenses of the proceedings must be provided
      with such reasonable sum that strikes equity between the spouses.
      20. Taking into consideration the facts of this case and the settled
      position of law, I am of the view that learned trial court has
      correctly considered the relevant factors and has also rightly relied
      upon the judgments of this court as also the Apex Court. I find no
      infirmity in the order dated 24.2.2009, which requires interference
      by this court in the proceedings under Article 227 of the
      Constitution of India. Accordingly, present petition is without any
      merit and the same is dismissed.
      21. Interim order dated 4.3.2009 stands vacated. All arrears shall be
      cleared by the petitioner within a period of three months from today, which shall be paid by the petitioner to the respondent in equal installments and the first installment shall be paid by the petitioner within 15 days from today.
      CM NO.3129\/2009<\/span> (STAY).<\/strong>
      22. Application stands dismissed in view of the orders passed in the petition.
      G.S. SISTANI, J.<\/strong>
      March 31, 2011<\/strong>
      \u2018msr\u201f<\/p>\n

      http:\/\/lobis.nic.in\/dhc\/GSS\/judgement\/05-05-2011\/GSS31032011CMM1692009.pdf<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n

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