Maintenance pendente lite and expenses of proceedings
Full Text
Where in any proceeding under this Act it appears to the court that either the wife or the husband, as the case may be, has no independent income sufficient for her or his support and the necessary expenses of the proceeding, it may, on the application of the wife or the husband, order the respondent to pay to the petitioner the expenses of the proceeding, and monthly during the proceeding such sum as, having regard to the petitioner’s own income and the income of the respondent, it may seem to the court to be reasonable.
Provided that the application for the payment of the expenses of the proceeding and such monthly sum during the proceeding, shall, as far as possible, be disposed of within sixty days from the date of service of notice on the wife or the husband, as the case may be.
Plain English Summary
Provides gender-neutral interim maintenance (pendente lite) and litigation expenses to either spouse lacking sufficient independent income, directing disposal ideally within 60 days.
Key Legal Elements
- Gender-neutral: either the wife or the husband can apply for interim support
- Applicant must lack independent income sufficient for personal support and litigation expenses
- Court evaluates respective incomes, assets, and living standards to fix a reasonable monthly sum and legal costs
- Mandatory statutory endeavour to decide the interim application within 60 days of notice service
Practical Note
Gender-neutral provision: either spouse (wife or husband) can claim interim maintenance if indigent, unlike Section 125 CrPC/BNSS or DV Act (which are wife-only). As per Rajnesh v. Neha (SC 2020), comprehensive affidavits of disclosure of assets and liabilities are mandatory.
हिंदी पाठ
जहां इस अधिनियम के अधीन किसी कार्यवाही में न्यायालय को यह प्रतीत हो कि, यथास्थिति, पत्नी या पति के पास अपने भरण-पोषण और कार्यवाही के आवश्यक व्ययों के लिए पर्याप्त स्वतंत्र आय नहीं है, वहां वह पत्नी या पति के आवेदन पर, प्रत्यर्थी को यह आदेश दे सकेगा कि वह अर्जीदार को कार्यवाही का व्यय और कार्यवाही के दौरान प्रतिमाह ऐसी राशि संदत्त करे जो अर्जीदार की अपनी आय और प्रत्यर्थी की आय को ध्यान में रखते हुए न्यायालय को युक्तियुक्त प्रतीत हो।
परन्तु कार्यवाही के व्ययों और कार्यवाही के दौरान ऐसी मासिक राशि के संदाय के आवेदन का निपटारा, यथासंभव, यथास्थिति, पत्नी या पति पर सूचना की तामील की तारीख से साठ दिन के भीतर किया जाएगा।