In an interesting legal development as far as maintenance law goes, Punjab & Haryana High Court in the case of Maintenance by estranged wife, allowed the jobless husband (who had lost his job) to provide basic necessities like Rice, Ghee & wearing suits to his wife in maintenance.

Amit, petitioner in the case,a resident of Punjab, had told the high court that he can’t provide monetary sum to his estranged wife and would make do with monthly ration. His lawyer informed the court about his unemployment and submitted before the Hon’ble court that the petitioner husband is willing to fulfill his wife’s daily necessities instead of giving her monetary sum as maintenance.

His lawyer submitted that petitioner was ready to provide 20kg rice, 15kg wheat 5kg sugar, 5kg different pulses and 5kg pure ghee per month. Also, three wearing suits quarterly and two liters of milk every day to the respondent.

Justice Raj Shekhar Attri in his court order directed the husband to provide all these items within three days to the estranged wife. He further directed the petitioner husband to clear the arrears of maintenance and to submit the affidavit in this regard on or before the date fixed for same.