Listed below are few judgments which deal with maintenance for knifes under Section 125 of CrPC [now Section 144 BNSS]. Some are judgments of various courts where there are modifications done to the interim maintenance granted to Knife. The reason for this listing is to initiate Perjury proceedings against the Knife (apart from an application for Contempt of Courts), as and when applicable. Some helpful judgements are here.

In some recent judgments of High Courts, it is being held that capable to earn is NOT equated to earning currently. Banking on this aspect only is not helpful and can be suicidal if this is the only argument victim-husband has.

Supreme Court

1. Smt. Yamunabai Anantrao Adhav A Vs Ranantrao Shivram Adhav And … on 27 January, 1988 (When the marriage is a complete nullity in the eye of law and wife is not entitled to the benefit of Section 125 of the CrPC)
2. Smt. Jasbir Kaur Sehgal Vs The District Judge Dehradun & Ors on 27 August, 1997 (Maintenance granted from Date of Application from Date of Order)
3. Shahada Khatoon and Ors Vs Amjad Ali and Ors on 7 Apr 1999 (Under 125(3) CrPC, 1-year time limit is for issuance of warrant for arrest)
4. Deb Narayan Halder Vs Anushree Halder on 26 August, 2003 [No maintenance for Deserter wife 144(4) BNSS/125(4) CrPC]
5. Ruchi Agarwal Vs Amit Kumar Agrawal and Ors on 5 Nov 2004 [Once MCD done with no future claims, maintenance cannot be claimed later]
6. Chaturbhuj Vs Sita Bai on 27 November, 2007 [who is eligible to claim maintenance u/s 125 Cr.P.C. and under what conditions]
7. Bhushan Kumar Meen vs Mansi Meen @ Harpreet Kaur on 28 April, 2009 (Reduced from 10K to 5K)
8. Poongadi And Anr vs Thangavel on 27 September, 2013 (Total arrears to be paid from date of filing of MC application; arrest can happen for a month maximum for each violation of monthly maintenance)
9. Sunita Kachwaha and Ors Vs Anil Kuchwaha on 28 Oct 2014 [Wife must positively aver and prove that she is unable to maintain herself]
10. Rajnesh Pal Naidu Vs Neha Naidu Joshi and Anr on 04 Nov 2020 [Guidelines issued to file Income, Asset and Liability affidavits before passing any Interim or Final Maintenance Orders ]
11. Anju Garg and Anr Vs Deepak Kumar Garg on 28 Sep 2022 [An able-bodied husband must provide financial support and cannot escape liability]
12. Aditi Sharma Vs Jitesh Sharma on 06 Nov 2023 [Reiterated/re-circulated Rajnesh Vs Neha to all High Courts]
13. Rina Kumari Vs Dinesh Kumar Mahto and Anr on 10 Jan 2025 [Being successful in RCR case doesn’t automatically disqualify the wife from maintenance under 125 CrPC/144 BNSS]
14. N.Usha Rani and Anr Vs Moodudula Srinivas on 30 Jan 2025 [Second husband can be made liable to pay maintenance to Wife, even if she didn’t take divorce from her first husband]

 

Allahabad High Court

1. Kiran Dhar Vs Alok Berman on 14 May, 2014 (No Domestic relationship as First Wife alive)
2. Ismile @ Shama Vs State Of U.P. & Others on 22 September, 2016 (Knife able to maintain herself)
3. Vipin Kumar Vs State of U.P. and Anr on 25 Feb 2022 (relying on Hazi, held issue of arrest warrants is not correct law, in case of non payment of maintenance)
4. Parul Tyagi Vs Gaurav Tyagi on 04 Aug 2023 [IMP: Guidelines passed in elaboration of Rajnesh Pal Naidu Vs Neha Naidu Joshi and Anr on 04 Nov 2020 and Aditi Sharma Vs Jitesh Sharma on 06 Nov 2023]
5. Dr. Virender Kumar Vs State of UP and Anr on 16 Oct 2024 [Once there is categorical allegation of adultery against the wife (attracting Section 125(4) Cr.P.C.), then the court concerned dealing with the matter under Section 125 Cr.P.C. has to decide the issue of adultery and even interim maintenance can be awarded only after recording a finding on that issue]
6. Mohammad Rizwan Khan Vs State of UP and Anr on 08 Sep 2025 (Dispose Perjury First; Adultery allegations)
7. Atul Kumar Bajpai Vs State of UP and Anr on 17 Sep 2025 (Dispose Perjury First; False RvN Affidavit allegations)
8. Ankit Saha Vs State of UP and Anr on 03 Dec 2025 [Failed to prove unable to support herself and came to Court with unclean hands; Relies on Rekha Sharad Ushir Vs Saptashrungi Mahila Nagari Sahkari Patsansta Ltd on 26 Mar 2025]

Andhra Pradesh High Court

1. Jangam Srinivasa Rao Vs Jaagam Rajeshwari and Anr on 13 Mar 1989 [Can claim maintenance only up to 12 months; Bad judgment as such restriction goes against execution proceedings]
2. Moodududla Srinivas Vs Smt .N.Usha Rani on 13 April, 2017
3. Gollamudi Ramesh Vs Modukuri Nagamani and Anr on 30 Aug 2017 [Evidence must not be taken via Affidavit as per Sec 126(2) CrPC]
4. Borugadda Rama Devi and Ors Vs Borugadda Ravi Kumar and Anr on 26 Dec 2018 [No maintenance for Deserter wife 144(4) BNSS/125(4) CrPC]
5. Chinta Vamshi Vs State of Telangana and Anr on 16 Oct 2023 [Follow Rajnesh Vs Neha]
6. Gurram Sitaramaiah Vs Gurram Siva Parvathi and Ors on 08 Jan 2024 [Relied on Shahada Khatoon and Poongadi judgments; Under 125(3) CrPC, 1-year time limit is for issuance of warrant for arrest; arrest can happen for a month maximum for each violation of monthly maintenance]

Trial Courts:

1. Byru Rajeswari Vs Byru Suresh Babu on 30 Apr 2018 (Knife failed to prove her allegations)
2. Gadesula Radhika Vs Gadesula Rajesh on 22 Jan 2019 (Knife voluntarily left the company of husband)
3. Palagani Samrajyam and Anr Vs Palagani Nagaraju on 30 Dec 2019 (Knife voluntarily left the company of husband)
4. K Sreekanth Naik Vs P Nalini and Anr on 25 Apr 2024 [Follow Rajnesh Vs Neha]

Bombay High Court

1. Sanjay Sudhakar Bhosale Vs Khristina on 8 April, 2008 (Cruelty not proved)
2. Sachin Vs Sau. Sushma on 6 May, 2014 (Follow Section 421 of the Cr.P.C. first before arrest)
3. Bhagwant Narnawre Vs Radhika Narnawre on 05 Apr 2019 (Wife is not a creditor)
4. Devendra Vs Trupti Devendra on 27 Sep 2022 [Seeking maintenance for daughter after MCD]
5. Prakash Dheple Vs Vithabai and Anr on 10 May 2024 [Impose interest on Maintenance arrears]

Calcutta High Court

1. Saikat Das Vs State of West Bengal and Anr on 27 Mar 2025 [No maintenance for Deserter wife 144(4) BNSS/125(4) CrPC]

Chhattisgarh High Court

1. Rishikesh Singh Vs Kiran Gautam on 05 Sep 2014 (MCD u/s 13B of HMA does not entitle wife maintenance u/s 125 CrPC)
2. Jagdamba Trivedi Vs Neha Trivedi on 18 Jan 2021 [Importance of Section 421 Cr.P.C., arrest warrant in 125(3) Cr.P.C. cases; Follow Rajnesh Vs Neha for recovery of the amount of maintenance]
3. Birendra Kumar Tiwari Vs Neetu Tiwari on 07 Dec 2022 [Major daughter not eligible to seek maintenance u/s 144 BNSS]
4. Resham Lal Dewangan Vs Suman Dewangan on 09 May 2025 [Once a divorce decree is granted on the ground that wife is living in adultery then, wife suffers from the disqualification to claim maintenance from her ex-husband]

Delhi High Court Judgments

1. Sabina Sahdev and Ors Vs Vidur Sahdev on 9 Jul 2018 [no pre-condition can be laid before receiving Appeal/Revision such as deposit maintenance amount]
2. Binita Dass Vs Uttam Kumar on 9 Aug 2019 [ Wife who is independent and have source of income, can be a ground to deny interim maintenance]
3. Sandeep Walia Vs Monika Uppal on 18 Jul 2022 [Petitioner was not truthful in disclosure of his correct income in his affidavit]
4. Rangesh Srinivasan Vs Madhulika Bawa on 07 Jun 2023 [Stay on Interim Maintenance Order without any pre-condition; relied on Sabina Sahdev and Ors Vs Vidur Sahdev on 9 Jul 2018]
5. Zahir Obdullah and Anr Vs Omar Abdullah on 31 Aug 2023 [Interim enhanced to 1.5 lakhs from 75,000; despite the law providing, Court granted maintenance to major children!]
6. Sachin Kumar Daksh Vs Mamta Gola and Anr on 16 Feb 2024 [Allowed Revised Income affidavit as per Rajnesh Vs Neha judgement though held that earlier affidavit is not obliterated]
7. Megha Khetrapal Vs Rajat Kapoor on 19 Mar 2025 [No Interim Maintenance from previously working wife]
8. Naveen Kumar Vs Kavita on 01 Jul 2025 [When ad interim Maintenance can be granted; Interim Maintenance cannot be granted without an Interim Maintenance application]
9. Nidhi Jain Vs Ankit Jain on 31 Jul 2025 [Allow 311 recall petition]
10. Geeta and Anr Vs State and Anr on 10 Sep 2025 [Concealing actual income and withholding the most relevant documents in his affidavit which alone could establish her present financial incapacity should lead to adverse inference against wife]
11. Arshi Parveen Vs Maqsood on 5 Jan 2026 [Courts can assess a husband’s income on minimum wages where financial disclosure is incomplete and enhanced interim maintenance under Section 125 Cr.P.C.
12. Tasmeer Qureshi Vs Asfia Mazaffar on 29 Oct 2025 [Courts must assess income before fixing interim maintenance and remanded the matter for fresh determination.]
13. Vinod Kumar Vs Seema Devi and Anr on 16 Mar 2026

Trial Courts:

1. Neeraj Aggarwal Vs Veeka Aggarwal on September 19, 2007 (Educated and Working Wife (even after marriage) not entitled for maintenance)

Gauhathi High Court

1. Hazi Abdul Khaleque Vs Mustt. Samsun Nehar on 20 Aug 1990 (No arrest can be made for non-payment of maintenance u/s 125 Cr.P.C.)

Gujarat High Court

1. Hemlataben Maheshbhai Chauhan Vs State of Gujarat on 21 October, 2010 (denied interim maintenance to Knife as she is already getting maintenance under Section 125 of CrPC)
2. Varshaben Himantlal Vejani Vs State of Gujarat on 15 Jul 2016 (Spouses living separately with mutual consent so No maintenance can be allowed; Agreements against Public Policy are void)
3. Ashokbhai Devsingbhai Chauhan Vs Taraben Ashokbhai Chauhan on 11 Nov 2019 (Wife is not a creditor)

Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court

1. Showkat Aziz Zargar Vs Nabeel Showkat and Anr on 02 Sep 2022 (No maintenance to children once they attain majority, except one exception)

Jharkhand High Court

1. Ramdhani Sah Vs The State of Jharkhand on 22 June, 2016 (No arrest without following sec 421 Cr.P.C.)

Karnataka High Court

1. K.R.Arun vs M.Latha on 22 September, 2014 (Interim is reduced in S24 HMA, to Rs.2000/- from Rs.3000/-, until assets information is received in court)
2. Dr. Deepak K S Vs Dr. Sowmya Sharath on 23 March, 2018
3. Darshanik M M Vs Poornima A on 04 Dec 2023 [Not followed Guidelines passed in Rajnesh Pal Naidu Vs Neha Naidu Joshi and Anr on 04 Nov 2020 ]
4. Y.G. Rajesh Vs M Ramya and Anr on 08 Feb 2024 [Standard deduction not to be considered as salary]
5. Lakshmayya Vs M.Shivalingamma and Anr on 04 Mar 2024 [ex parte Final Maintenance order set aside]
6. K.L Rangaswamy Vs Sharadha. D on 20 Mar 2024 [Unclean hands; Liable for perjury; Interim Maintenance denial Order upheld]
7. Srinivasa D Vs Asha on 20 Mar 2025 [Landmark judgment to rectify baseless Orders of maintenance by Family Court judges in Karnataka]
8. Vinod Kumar K Vs Chaitra N on 3 Apr 2025 [Unclean hands; Liable for perjury; Interim Maintenance denial Order upheld; Refund of Interim Maintenance amount ordered]

Kerala High Court

1. Rajesh R. Nair Vs Meera Babu on 5 Mar 2013 (Spouses living separately with mutual consent; No maintenance can be allowed)
2. Arun R.Naik Vs Shwetha Arun Naik and Anr on 17 May 2021 [Direction to enhance Maintenance amount at 10% annually is set aside]
3. Rijas MT Vs Hafseena M on 15 Nov 2023 [No direct arrest warrant may be issued in case of failure to make maintenance payments]
4. Abhilash.M.V Vs Soumya Soman on 10 Nov 2023 [Husband not given chance to file objections]
5. Paul George Vs Emarin Paul on 12 Mar 2025 [No maintenance to a deserting wife]
6. Ratheesh Vs Sreelakshmi and Ors on 14 Mar 2025 (Even to dispose Interim Maintenance Applications, call for affidavits)
7. S.Mumthas and Anr Vs M.Nizar @ Nizarudeen and Anr [No direct arrest warrant may be issued without issuing a distress warrant]
8. Jinesh CR Vs Aswathy PR on 19 Nov 2025 [Maintenance denied due to adultery]

Madhya Pradesh High Court

1. Mamta Jaiswal vs Rajesh Jaiswal on 24 March, 2000 (Educated and Working Wife (even after marriage) not entitled for maintenance)
2. Nirman Sagar Vs Monika Sagar Chaudhari and Anr on 01 Apr 2022 [No territorial jurisdiction]
3. Balram Dixit Vs Kiran Dixit and Anr on 17 Jan 2024 [Follow Rajnesh Vs Neha]
4. Shrikrishna Vs Sunita Bai on 02 May 2024 [Woman whose first marriage is subsisting, is not entitled to maintenance under section 125 CrPC]
5. Shikha Vs Avaneesh Mahodaya on 10 Sep 2024 [well educated lady who also has her own source of income]
6. Sumit Raj Shivhare Vs Anushree Gupta Shivhare on 05 Nov 2024 [To enhance Maintenance amount at 5% annually]

Madras High Court

1. M.Chinna Karuppasamy Vs Kanimozhi on 16 Jul 2015 [No maintenance to adulterer wife]
2. P Amutha Vs Gunsekaran on 23 Dec 2022 (Wife is not a creditor)
3. N.Santhosh Kumar Vs S.Priyadarshini on 25 Oct 2025 [Lied on the Income Affidavit, so interim maintenance reduced]
4. Alagarsamy Vs Mangalasundari and Anr on 20 Nov 2025 []

Orissa High Court

1. Madan Kumar Satpathy Vs Priyadarshini Pati on 07 Feb 2025 [Maintenance reduced to a well-educated wife]

Patna High Court

1. Laljee Yadav Vs The State Of Bihar on 16 September, 2011 (Importance of Section 421 Cr.P.C., arrest warrant in 125(3) Cr.P.C. cases)
2. Gitanjali Devi Vs State of Bihar and Anr on 02 Dec 2023 [Follow Rajnesh Vs Neha]
3. Rajesh Kumar Vs Nutan Devi on 18 Feb 2025 [To enhance Maintenance amount at 5% annually; if not paid, invoke contempt of courts]
4. Vivek Kumar Singh Vs Pallawi Kumari on 11 Mar 2025
5. Ravi Prakash Saxena Vs Priyanka Rani on 04 Sep 2025 [Remanded case back to the same Trial Courts for fresh adjudication]

Punjab and Haryana High Court

1. Asha Rani Vs Ranjit Singh on 11 Dec 2024 [No maintenance for Educated wife]
2. Anu Aggarwal Vs Sushant Aggarwal on 20 Jan 2026 [Concealed material facts in Income Affidavit]

Telangana High Court

1. Ekula Sujatha Vs Ekula Rajender and Anr on 1 Jul 2024 [No maintenance for Deserter wife]

Uttarakhand High Court

1. Anshu Gupta Vs Adwait Anand on 09 Aug 2023 [Mother liable to pay maintenance to minor child]

Index of all Maintenance judgments is here.