Husband Cannot Give Excuse Of Unemployment To Evade Responsibility Towards Family: Delhi Court

Published 6 June 2026 · local

Husband Cannot Give Excuse Of Unemployment To Evade Responsibility Towards Family: Delhi Court Published By, Last Updated: June 06, 2026, 18:52 IST Delhi court orders

Husband Cannot Give Excuse Of Unemployment To Evade Responsibility Towards Family: Delhi Court Published By, Last Updated: June 06, 2026, 18:52 IST Delhi court orders a man to pay Rs 6,000 monthly maintenance for minor son, rules unemployment excuse invalid and rejects claim that educated wife should be denied relief. The court found that the father had failed to provide financial support for the child for years. (Representative image) A Delhi court has ruled that a husband cannot avoid his legal obligation to support his wife and minor child simply by claiming that he is unemployed. The court directed a man to pay Rs 6,000 per month as maintenance for his son in a domestic violence case. Additional Sessions Judge Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan passed the order while hearing an appeal filed by a woman against a trial court decision that had denied her monetary relief.

Unemployment No Excuse To Avoid Maintenance: Court In its June 2 order, the court observed, “It is for the respondent/husband to manage his expenses and merely giving the excuse that he is jobless or that he has other responsibilities… does not absolve him from maintaining his legally wedded wife and the minor son," PTI reported. The woman alleged that after her marriage in 2013, she faced dowry-related harassment, physical abuse and mental cruelty from her husband and his relatives. She claimed she was forced out of the matrimonial home during pregnancy and had been raising their son alone since 2015. Although the appellate court agreed with the trial court that allegations of physical violence and cruelty were not sufficiently supported by medical records or independent evidence, it found that the father had failed to provide financial support for the child for years.

“The respondent is equally responsible for maintaining the minor child," the court said. ‘Education Alone Does Not Prove Financial Independence’ The judge also dismissed the argument that the woman should be denied relief because she was educated. “The capability to earn and actual earning are two different concepts," the court noted, adding that the husband had not produced any evidence to show that she earned enough to support herself and the child. The court further noted that the husband repeatedly failed to file an income affidavit despite opportunities granted by the trial court. “I am of the considered opinion that respondent/ husband is capable of paying a maintenance amount of Rs 6000 to the minor son till he attains the age of majority from the date of present Order," the court said. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk.