Domestic Violence Case | Husband Wife Alimony: Man staying away from wife told to pay for upkeep of her pets by court
MUMBAI : Domestic Violence Case | A court in Mumbai has issued an order in a domestic violence case that a man staying apart from his wife should pay allowance to his wife to take care of her three pet dogs. In an interim order issued by Metropolitan Magistrate (Bandra Court) Komalsingh Rajput, the man was directed to pay ₹50,000 per month to his 55-year-old wife and rejected the petition of her husband that he cannot pay for upkeep of his wife’s pet dogs.
The woman told the court that she had got married with the defendant (a Bengaluru-based businessman) in September 1986. Many years after marriage, they developed some differences and in 2021, her husband sent her to Mumbai. As per the petition, her husband had promised to pay alimony and fulfil her other basic needs. However, the husband did not abide by his promise. The woman suffered physical abuse many times.
The petition states that the woman does not have any source of income. She is ill and has health problems. She also has to take care of three dogs. She had sought a monthly allowance which will include allowance to take care of her pets. Her husband had submitted a petition that allowance is not given for upkeep of pets and the amount of allowance should be reduced. However, the court rejected the petition.
Pets help people in leading a healthy life and reduce the emotional disturbance caused by conflicts in relations. In this case, the woman stated that she has health problems and responsibility of three dogs and sought alimony from her husband who stays separately.
The magistrate said, “I don’t agree with the argument that it is not necessary to give allowance to take care of pets. Pets are a part of cultured lifestyle. Pets are necessary for leading a healthy life. They provide mental support to reduce the emotional disturbance caused by conflicts in relations. Hence, this argument of reducing the allowance is not valid.”