In a recent legal ruling, the High Court of Jharkhand in Ranchi has reversed a maintenance decision, offering insights into the intricate nature of marital conflicts and maintenance regulations in India.
In a Criminal Revision filed by Amit Kumar Kachhap against an order mandating him to provide Rs. 15,000 monthly maintenance to his wife, Sangeeta Toppo, Justice Subhash Chand’s ruling has garnered significant attention due to its thorough examination and consequential decision.
The case, stemming from an Original Maintenance claim in 2017 under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, presented conflicting assertions from both parties. Sangeeta Toppo claimed instances of cruelty, neglect, and alleged an extramarital relationship on her husband’s part, while Amit Kumar Kachhap argued that Sangeeta had departed without justification and filed false allegations against him.
In his judgment, Justice Subhash Chand meticulously dissected the evidence presented before the court. “The respondent-applicant has been residing aloof from the husband without any reasonable cause,” the judge stated, citing Section 125(4) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. “Accordingly, she is not entitled to any amount of maintenance.”