A Karnataka High Court judge has sternly rebuked a woman who demanded more than Rs 6 lakh per month as maintenance from her husband. The woman, Radha Munukuntla, was seeking financial support under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and had detailed her monthly expenses to justify her demand.
During a hearing that was held on August 20, Munukuntla's lawyer presented a breakdown of her expenses to the court and said her client needed Rs 15,000 per month for shoes, dresses, bangles and other accessories, Rs 60,000 per month for food at home, and Rs 4-5 lakh for her medical treatment for her knee pain, physiotherapy and medical expenses.
The lawyer said the woman altogether wanted Rs 6,16,300 as maintenance from her husband. But, the judge was taken aback by the exorbitant amounts and questioned the necessity of such expenses for a single woman without any family responsibilities.
In a firm response, the judge told the lawyer, "Please don’t tell that the court that it is all a person requires. Rs 6,16,300 per month! Does anybody spend this much? A single lady for herself. If she wants to spend, let her earn. Not on the husband."
"You don't have any other responsibility of the family. You don't have to take care of the children. You want it for yourself. That is not the purpose of Section 24. It's not a punishment for the husband that he is having a dispute with his wife, and he will have to pay Rs 6,16,300. You should be reasonable in telling it," she added.
The judge asked the lawyer to come up with a more reasonable amount, warning that the plea would be dismissed if the demands were not revised. A video of the judge's rap on the woman's lawyer during the hearing has gone viral on social media.
The judge's words were a clear indication that the court would not tolerate unreasonable demands, especially when they seemed to be driven by a desire for luxury rather than basic necessities.
Under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, spouses involved in matrimonial disputes are granted interim maintenance and expenses of legal proceedings.
The provision ensures that a dependent spouse, either the husband or the wife, can receive financial support during ongoing legal proceedings if they lack an independent income sufficient for their support and the necessary expenses of the proceedings.
