In a recent ruling, the Punjab and Haryana High Court determined that a woman who secured employment on compassionate grounds after her husband’s demise is obligated to support her mother-in-law financially. The court upheld a previous family court decision that mandated the woman to provide a monthly interim maintenance of ₹10,000 to her mother-in-law.
The legal framework does not typically impose a maintenance obligation on a daughter-in-law for her parent-in-law, or vice versa, under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). However, the Court noted that judicial precedents have occasionally made exceptions to ensure justice is served. This includes instances where the Supreme Court and various High Courts have recognized mutual maintenance responsibilities within extended families under specific circumstances.
The case arose when the woman, who had been working as a junior clerk since 2005 after her husband, a constable, passed away in 2002, was approached by her mother-in-law for maintenance in 2022. Despite leaving her matrimonial home and having a son to care for, the court found that she had a legal obligation to support her mother-in-law, who lacked adequate means of support from her other children.
The Court emphasized the importance of the maintenance provision in preventing destitution and vagrancy, aligning with the broader goals of social justice as outlined in the Indian Constitution. It stressed the need for careful application to prevent misuse of this protective measure.
Despite her personal challenges as a single mother, the Court pointed out that the woman’s income of ₹80,000 per month enables her to fulfill the maintenance obligation without undue hardship.
