A Karnataka High Court judge dismissed a woman’s request for ₹6 lakh in monthly alimony from her ex-husband, suggesting she should earn if she wished to spend such a large amount. A video of the court proceedings, which has gained widespread attention online, shows the woman’s advocate arguing for ₹6,16,300 in maintenance. The judge criticized the claim as unreasonable, questioning how someone could spend that amount monthly on their own.
Detailed Expense Claims
In the video, the woman’s lawyer detailed her expenses, including ₹4 to 5 lakh per month for knee pain treatment, physiotherapy, and medicines, along with ₹50,000 for basic needs like bangles and slippers, and ₹60,000 for food. The lawyer also compared her financial situation to her ex-husband’s, noting he wears branded clothes while she manages with old garments.
Judge’s Response and Social Media Reaction
The judge responded to the petition by stating, “Please don’t tell the court that this is what a person requires. Six lakh, sixteen thousand, three hundred per month? Does anybody spend this much? A single lady for herself?” The judge added, “Well if she wants to spend, let her earn. Not on the husband.” The judge also advised the woman’s advocate to explain to her that the alimony demand was excessive. “You have no other responsibility of the family. You don’t have to take care of the children,” the judge remarked, emphasizing that alimony should not serve as a penalty to the husband.
The judge’s response has been praised on social media, with the video garnering over 2 million views.
One X user commented, “Once again female judges showing the way with right questions and correct judgments! Hope this happens a lot more often.”
Another user added, “This Judge is truly future CJI material. Hope this is noticed and taken into consideration.”
Author Isha Singla questioned the financial calculations, noting, “Spending 4-5 lakhs on doctors? Even if a physiotherapist charges 1,500-3,000 per visit and comes daily for a month, the total would be at most 1 lakh. How are they even calculating this? And a gold loan? If they’re so rich, why would they need a gold loan?”