SUSHIL KUMAR GUPTA Vs. REENA GUPTA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) C.M.(M) 732 of 2001 is directed against the order of the Additional District Judge dated 11.10.2001 in H.M.A. No. 413/2001 whereby the learned Judge has fixed maintenance under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act at Rs.20,000.00 per month together with litigation expenses of Rs.15,000.00.

(2.) Learned counsel for the petitioner contended that the amount fixed towards maintenance is excessive and that the criteria adopted by the learned Judge is contrary to law inasmuch as the learned Judge has taken into consideration the income and status of the elder brother of the petitioner, Radhey Kishore Gupta, while arriving at the conclusion that the petitioner is a man of means. It was also contended that the respondent, on her own showing, had made a statement in a writ petition that her income is Rs.6,000.00 which amount has also been ignored as also a sum of rupees one lac given by the petitioner. Learned counsel has drawn my attention to an application, being C.M. No. 93/2003, for modification of order dated 3.1.2002 passed by this court wherein this court, in an ex parte order, had allowed the petitioner to pay an interim maintenance at the rate of Rs.10,000.00 per month and Rs.10,000.00 towards litigation expenses. By way of modification, counsel submits that the petitioner is unable to pay the amount stated above and that the petitioner will pay only Rs.1,000.00 per month towards maintenance.

(3.) I have carefully gone through the order under challenge as also the material placed on record. I find that the order of the trial court is a detailed one setting out the factors taken into consideration while arriving at the figure of Rs.20,000.00 per month. The trial court has returned a finding that the petitioner is running a business in partnership with his brother, Radhey Kishore Gupta, who is a man of considerable means. Even otherwise, the petitioner is running a business in partnership with Avinash Jain at Palam Colony with the name of "Amit Brothers" which has a business of manufacturing and selling automatic jet pumps, the turnover whereof is said to be approximately rupees two crores. The petitioner also owns an agency having luxury coaches and cars from where he generates an income of rupees four to five crores besides other businesses from where he receives substantial income. On the other hand, respondent's income of Rs.6,000.00 was only temporary in nature as she was working against a leave vacancy which is no longer available and that Rs.80,000.00 out of rupees one lac has been spent on litigation.