The Supreme Court has provided significant relief to an Indian-American IT consultant by rejecting his second wife’s demand for alimony equal to what he gave his first wife. The decision was delivered by a bench comprising Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Pankaj Mithal, who ordered the payment of ₹12 crore instead.
The husband had appealed to the Supreme Court to dissolve his marriage under Article 142 of the Constitution, citing irreparable breakdown. The second wife, however, demanded alimony matching the ₹500 crore settlement given to his first wife.
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In its verdict, the court emphasized that alimony laws aim to safeguard a separated spouse from deprivation, ensure dignity, and uphold social justice—not to create parity in property ownership. It criticized the trend of demanding equal shares in property during separation proceedings, stating, “If the husband’s property diminishes after separation, such demands seem unreasonable.”
The bench also questioned whether a wife would claim property equality if her husband’s wealth were to significantly reduce due to unforeseen circumstances. It advised caution, reminding women that maintenance laws are meant for welfare, not as tools for punishment, extortion, or intimidation.
The second wife had argued that the husband owned properties in India and the US and ran a ₹5,000 crore business. She highlighted the ₹500 crore property settlement and house in Virginia given to the first wife.
The marriage, solemnized on July 31, 2021, lasted less than a year. The court ultimately rejected the ₹500 crore alimony demand from the second wife, concluding that such claims should reflect fairness and practicality rather than seeking parity with previous settlements.
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