MEHAK @ SILKI Vs. AJAY SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Reply to the application under section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act has been filed, copy thereof supplied to the counsel for the appellant-wife. This application has been filed by the appellant-wife claiming a sum of Rs. 25,000/- as maintenance pendente lite for herself and Rs. 10,000/- for the minor son of the parties.

(2.) Non-applicant/husband filed reply claiming that on account of his weakness of eyes, he is a disabled man, incapable of earning. The allegation of the applicant-wife that non-applicant/husband is running a bakery in a posh locality of Amritsar, has been denied. However, it is stated that the said bakery is being run by the father of the non-applicant/husband. The disability certificate has been appended with the reply as Annexure R-1.

(3.) We have taken into consideration the above-said circumstances and the fact that a sum of Rs. 6,000/- had been awarded as maintenance pendente lite by the lower Court for the applicant-wife and Rs. 4,000/- for the minor child in the year 2015. Taking a judicial notice of the escalating prices, we deem it appropriate to enhance the maintenance pendent lite for the wife by a sum of Rs. 2,000/- and that of the son by Rs. 1,000/-. The total amount payable by the non-applicant/husband as maintenance pendente lite for the applicant-wife is thus fixed at Rs. 13,000/- per month with effect from the date of application i.e. August, 2016. A sum of Rs. 33,000/- is granted as litigation expenses and Rs. 20,000/- which has already been paid will be adjusted against the said amount.