5 days ago
Gurgaon Court Orders ₹2 Lakh Maintenance Despite Income Claim
A Gurgaon court told a man to pay ₹2 lakh every month to his wife and children.
The man said he was earning much less than before.
He also said he had a large home loan and paid for his children's boarding school.
The court was not convinced that his income had really fallen as much as claimed.
It looked at his earlier income and the fact that he still had the same job role.
The court said school fees are only one part of a child's needs.
It also said an educated wife cannot automatically be refused maintenance.
Claims about hidden savings and foreign travel needed more evidence before they could affect the decision.
A Gurgaon family court ordered a senior Deloitte executive to pay ₹2 lakh monthly to his estranged wife and children.
The husband said his annual salary had fallen to about ₹36 lakh and cited a ₹1.7 crore home loan.
The court found the income decline unconvincing because he continued in the same organisational role.
Earlier disclosures showed income of about ₹2 crore in assessment year 2023-24 and ₹2.9 crore in 2024-25.
The court said school fees do not replace broader maintenance and rejected interim objections based on the wife's education and alleged undisclosed assets.
- Who
- A senior Deloitte executive, his estranged wife, and their twin children were involved.
- What
- A Gurgaon family court ordered the man to pay ₹2 lakh monthly maintenance, continue paying educational fees, and provide ₹50,000 toward litigation costs.
- Where
- The order was issued by a family court in Gurgaon; the couple married in Lucknow.
- When
- The couple married on 12 July 2005; the articles do not specify the date of the maintenance order.
- Why
- The court considered the husband's past earnings and continuing role, found his claimed income decline unsatisfactory, and said the children had needs beyond school fees.
Husband's Position
Court's Reasoning
Reported income decline
Husband's Position
The husband argued that his annual salary had fallen to about ₹36 lakh and that his home loan, parental responsibilities, and school expenses reduced his ability to pay.
Court's Reasoning
The court found the explanation unsatisfactory, noting his unchanged role and considering his substantially higher previous income.
Wife's ability to earn
Husband's Position
The husband's counsel argued that the wife was highly educated and capable of working, and alleged she had not disclosed certain assets and foreign travel.
Court's Reasoning
The court rejected these arguments at the interim stage, and legal commentary stated that education does not prove current employment or earnings.
School fees and maintenance
Husband's Position
The husband cited his existing payment of about ₹19.2 lakh annually for the children's boarding-school education.
Court's Reasoning
The court said school fees do not cover the children's other daily needs and that the wife's maintenance must be assessed separately.
Key facts
- Monthly maintenance
- ₹2 lakh, payable by the 10th of every month
- Litigation costs
- An additional ₹50,000 was ordered
- Claimed current salary
- About ₹36 lakh annually
- Earlier income disclosures
- About ₹2 crore in assessment year 2023-24 and ₹2.9 crore in 2024-25
- Home loan liability
- About ₹1.7 crore
- Children's education expenses
- About ₹19.2 lakh annually for boarding school
- Initial maintenance request
- ₹4 lakh monthly for the wife and children, plus ₹7.5 lakh in litigation expenses
Sources
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