A judicially separated wife is entitled to maintenance as a divorced wife and there is no reason to deny it to her, the Supreme Court has said. The apex court observed this while dealing with a woman's plea challenging the Patna High Court's 2014 verdict which had said that she was not entitled for maintenance. The high court's order had come on a petition filed by her husband who had challenged a trial court order awarding maintenance of Rs 4,000 per month to the woman. If a divorced wife is entitled for maintenance, there is no reason why a wife who is judicially separated is not entitled for maintenance," the bench said in its order. "The high court is required to look into the question whether the petitioner (woman) is entitled to maintenance or not and, if so, the quantum of maintenance," it said.

Source: Economic Times December 07, 2017 12:00 UTC