
Sat Jan 24 00:59:45 UTC 2026: ### Headline: Allahabad High Court Denies Maintenance to Wife Due to Family’s Role in Husband’s Incapacity
The Story:
The Allahabad High Court has ruled that a wife is not entitled to maintenance from her husband if her actions or omissions contribute to his inability to earn a living. The ruling came in response to a revision petition filed by a woman seeking maintenance from her husband, a homeopathy doctor, who was allegedly shot by her brother and father during an altercation at his clinic in Kushinagar. The court upheld the decision of the family court, emphasizing that granting maintenance in such circumstances would be a grave injustice, as the husband’s earning capacity was destroyed by the criminal acts of the wife’s family.
Key Points:
- The incident occurred at the husband, Ved Prakash Singh’s, clinic, where he was allegedly shot by his brother-in-law and father-in-law.
- A pellet remains lodged in Ved Prakash Singh’s spinal cord, and its removal carries a high risk of paralysis, rendering him unable to sit comfortably or maintain employment.
- The family court initially rejected the wife’s application for interim maintenance on May 7, 2025, a decision upheld by the High Court.
- Justice Lakshmi Kant Shukla emphasized that while a husband traditionally has a pious obligation to maintain his wife, no such explicit legal duty is placed on the wife.
- The court stated that the conduct of the wife and her family members rendered the husband incapable of earning his livelihood.
Key Takeaways:
- The court prioritizes causality, placing the burden of responsibility on the wife’s family for the husband’s inability to earn.
- The ruling highlights the complexities of maintenance laws, especially in cases where the earning capacity of one spouse is directly impacted by the actions of the other spouse’s family.
- The Allahabad High Court’s decision serves as a precedent in cases with similar circumstances, reinforcing the principle that individuals cannot benefit from situations they themselves created.