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Only a wife with no sufficient source of permanent income can claim maintenance from her husband, the Bombay high court has ruled. A division bench of Justice Vijaya Kapse-Tahilramani and Justice P N Deshmukh rejected the application.

"It is a well-settled law that only a wife who has no sufficient permanent source of income can claim and get maintenance from her husband who has sufficient means," said the judges. The couple has been living separately since 2007. 

The court pointed out that it had come in evidence that she had invested Rs 50 lakh in fixed deposits and also made investments in mutual funds. She has also invested another Rs 2 lakh that she got from husband in a fixed deposit. She resides in a flat that she had bought with her husband, who said she had exclusive possession of the house. This meant there was no rent to be paid. "

It is seen that the wife is getting more than Rs 37,500 per month as interest. She has more than Rs 50 lakh in the bank. In addition, (her) son is providing money for her maintenance and other expenses. No one is dependent," said the judges. 

Husband had moved the court for divorce on the grounds of cruelty, which was dismissed by a family court. Meanwhile, wife too moved the court. The family court allowed her plea and granted the couple judicial separation and asked husband to shell out Rs 25,000 as monthly maintenance. 

He challenged the maintenance order and a single bench of the HC set aside the maintenance order. Following this, wife challenged the orders and sought Rs 15,000 as maintenance.