Wife can't claim maintenance if her action contributes to husband's incapacity to earn: HC
Prayagraj (PTI): If a wife's actions or omissions contribute to her husband's incapacity to earn, she cannot claim maintenance from him, the Allahabad High Court has held.
The court dismissed a revision petition of a woman seeking maintenance from her husband, a homoeopathic doctor, who was allegedly shot at by his brother-in-law and father-in-law during an altercation at his clinic.
Upholding the decision of a family court in Kushinagar, which rejected the maintenance application of the wife, Justice Lakshmi Kant Shukla observed that granting maintenance in such a scenario would result in grave injustice, particularly when the man's earning capacity was destroyed by the criminal acts of the wife's family.
Ved Prakash Singh was allegedly shot at by his wife's brother and father during an altercation at his clinic, rendering him incapable of earning or providing maintenance to her.
The high court noted that a pellet remains lodged in the husband's spinal cord and a surgery to remove it carries a high risk of paralysis, leaving him unable to sit comfortably or maintain employment.
The family court on May 7, 2025, rejected the wife's application for interim maintenance. The high court upheld this decision, noting that the man's physical incapacity was undisputed and directly caused by the wife's side of the family.
"While Indian society generally expects a husband to work and maintain his family, this case presented unique circumstances," the court of Justice Shukla observed.
"It is well settled that though it is the pious obligation of a husband to maintain his wife, no such explicit legal duty has been cast upon the wife by any court of law."
In the facts of the present case, it prima facie appears that the conduct of the wife and her family members has rendered the opposite party incapable of earning his livelihood, the court said.
"If a wife by her own acts or omissions causes or contributes to the incapacity of her husband to earn, she cannot be permitted to take advantage of such a situation and claim maintenance.
"Granting maintenance in such circumstances would result in grave injustice to the husband, and the court cannot shut its eyes from the reality emerging from the record," it added.
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Delhi Police busts LPG black marketing racket in Bawana, 75 cylinders seized; 1 held
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Police has busted an LPG cylinder hoarding and black marketing racket in the Bawana area, an officer said on Friday.
A 50-year-old man, identified as Anil, has been arrested and 75 cylinders seized, he said.
The accused was apprehended following a tip-off about the illegal storage and transportation of LPG cylinders in the industrial area.
Acting on the input, a police team laid a picket near District Park in Bawana on Thursday evening. Around 4 pm, a pickup truck was intercepted and checked, leading to the recovery of 27 LPG cylinders, including both domestic and commercial units.
"When questioned, the accused failed to produce any valid documents, including a licence, permit, stock register or proof of ownership for the cylinders," the officer said.
During interrogation, Anil revealed that more cylinders were stored at nearby premises. Based on his disclosure, police raided two rooms and an iron shed near a factory in the area.
"A total of 48 additional cylinders were recovered, taking the overall seizure to 75. The cylinders were stored without safety measures or legal authorisation, posing a serious risk," the officer said.
Disruptions in maritime supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing US-Israel and Iran conflict have caused an LPG crisis in India.
