AMIT KUMAR Vs. NAVJOT DUBEY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present petition directs challenge against order dated 11.09.2013 (Annexure P5) passed by the District Judge, Pathankot whereby the respondent - wife has been allowed maintenance pendente lite under Sec. 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act.

(2.) The sole submission made by counsel for the petitioner is that the maintenance allowed by the Court @ Rs. 15,000.00 per month is on higher side and liable to be reduced. To substantiate his contention, counsel has submitted that the respondent - wife is working as a Science Mistress in Government Senior Secondary School, Boha (Pathankot) and her gross salary in the year 2013 was more than Rs. 38,000.00 whereas gross salary of the petitioner was Rs. 28,630.00 and his carry home salary was Rs. 18,030.00. It has further been submitted that gross salary of the respondent at present is approximately Rs. 48,000.00 whereas it is little more than Rs. 37,000.00 of the petitioner as of now. Another submission made by counsel is that the petitioner has an obligation to look after his old parents besides providing maintenance to the respondent.

(3.) Per contra counsel for the respondent has supported the impugned order with the submission that in view of sky-rocketing prices of necessities of life, expenses on education of two children besides their needs to grow well and face peer pressure, maintenance assessed by the Court below by no stretch of imagination can be termed to be excessive, warranting intervention.