In a significant observation on interim maintenance, the Supreme Court of India emphasized that well-educated women should strive for self-reliance rather than seek extravagant alimony. Especially, after a short-lived marriage. The remark came during the hearing of a high-profile case where a woman, an MBA graduate and IT professional, demanded ₹12 crore, a luxury BMW, and a prime apartment in Mumbai after just 18 months of marriage. Chief Justice BR Gavai, addressing the plea, stated, “If you are educated, you should not beg for yourself. You should earn and eat for yourself.” The court questioned the legitimacy of her lavish demands. Especially given her qualifications and the fact that she already lived in a Mumbai flat with two parking spots. The husband’s counsel argued that alimony cannot be claimed in such an extravagant manner, and the woman must work.
The woman, meanwhile, claimed her husband attempted to annul the marriage by accusing her of schizophrenia, which she denied. Asserting that she had the capability to work in major IT hubs, The bench offered her two choices, either accept ₹4 crore or a burden-free flat and seek employment in IT hubs. The court also noted that withdrawing consent from a mutual divorce for better settlement amounted to misuse of legal process. The matter now awaits a final order.
