Sanjeev Gupta Vs.
Shalini Gupta [2009] INSC 390 (23 February 2009)
Judgment
CIVIL APPELLATE
JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO.1163 OF 2009 (Arising out of S.L.P. (C) No.16742
of 2006) Sanjeev Gupta ...Appellant(s) Versus Shalini Gupta ...Respondent(s) O
R D E R Leave granted.
During the pendency
of H.M.A. Case No.158 of 2003 instituted by the appellant under Section 9 of
the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 [for short, `the Act'], the respondent filed an
application under Section 24 of the Act for interim maintenance.
By an order dated
22nd May, 2004, District Judge, Yamuna Nagar, directed the appellant herein to
pay interim maintenance to the respondent at the rate of Rs.750/- per month,
apart from Rs.1,100/- as litigation expenses. The respondent challenged that
order by filing a petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India. By
the impugned order, the High Court directed the appellant to pay Rs.5,000/- per
month to the respondent as interim maintenance. The High Court also enhanced
the litigation expenses from Rs.1,100/- to Rs.10,000/-.
We have heard learned
counsel for the parties.
A reading of the
order under challenge shows that even though the respondent did not produce any
evidence about the income of the appellant, the High Court enhanced the interim
maintenance by assuming the appellant's income is Rs.15,000/- per month.
Learned counsel appearing on behalf ....2/- -2- of the respondent could not show
that there was any material for enhancing the maintenance. Therefore, we hold
that the High Court was not justified in enhancing the amount of maintenance.
Accordingly, the
appeal is allowed and the impugned order passed by the High Court is set aside.
......................J.
[B.N. AGRAWAL]
......................J.
[G.S. SINGHVI]
New
Delhi,
February
23, 2009.
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