MP High Court Upholds Equality in Marriage, Orders Husband to Pay Maintenance
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that marriage cannot mean the growth of one partner at the cost of the other, emphasizing equality and mutual respect within marital relationships. Justice Gajendra Singh made the observation while hearing a maintenance plea filed by a woman who is a medical practitioner.
The court directed the husband to pay maintenance, stating that financial independence or professional qualifications do not negate a wife’s right to support if she is unable to maintain the same standard of living post-separation. Justice Singh underscored that marriage must ensure the development of both partners and should not impose restrictions on the wife’s progress or autonomy.
Legal experts hailed the judgment as a progressive interpretation of marital equality, aligning with evolving views on gender justice. The ruling reinforces the principle that maintenance is not charity but a spouse’s legal and moral obligation to ensure dignity and fairness in marriage.
