Stridhan and Gifts Cannot Be Treated as Source of Income to Defeat Wife’s Claim for Maintenance: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court delivered an important ruling clarifying the law on maintenance payable to a wife. The Court held that stridhan, inherited property, or gifts received by a wife from her parents or relatives cannot be treated as her income to deny or reduce maintenance payable by the husband. The judgment emphasized that maintenance law is meant to secure dignity and reasonable comfort for a wife, not to penalize…