RADHIKA Vs. VINEET RUNGTA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Revision is directed against the Order of the Additional District Judge dated 12.8.2000 dismissing the Revisionist/Petitioner/Wife's application for maintenance pendente lite. A perusal of the Order shows that the principal consideration that weighed in the mind of the learned Trial Court was that the Wife has not come to the Court with clean hands and has not placed her real income though she admits that she has certain income from interest on deposits.

(2.) It is poignant that the learned Judge has not discussed the income of the Husband.

(3.) Cases where the parties disclose their actual income are extremely rare. Experience, therefore, dictates that where a decision has to be taken pertaining to the claim for maintenance, and the quantum to be granted, the safer and surer method to be employed for coming to a realistic conclusion is to look at the status of the parties, since whilst incomes can be concealed, the status is palpably evident to all concerned. If any opulent lifestyle is enjoyed by warring spouses he should not be heard to complaint or plead that he has only a meagre income. If this approach had been followed, it would have been evident that the warring spouses enjoy a affluent lifestyle. It has already been noted that the learned Trial Court has not discussed the Husband's income. While granting maintenance it is incumbent on the Court to make such monetary arrangements as would be conducive to the spouses continuing a lifestyle to which they were accustomed before the matrimonial discord. In the application under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, it has been categorically pleaded that the Husband is getting a salary of US $ 72,000 per annum which is equivalent to Rs.30,24,000/- per annum along with the perquisites. A mention is made of the receipt of interest of approximately US $ 1,000 per month as also accounts in various banks. It is pleaded that the Husband is a joint owner of properties valued at over Rs.2,00,00,000/-. The Wife has pleaded that since 5.10.1998 she has been living at the mercy of her parents; that she has no movable or immovable properties or other assets in her name except a nominal amount of interest from deposits. It has been categorically stated that the Wife has no income to support herself and to meet her necessary expenses.