Additional Sessions Judge Rajneesh Kumar Gupta dismissed the man's appeal against an order of a trial court which had directed him to pay Rs 10,000 as maintenance and Rs 3,000 as accommodation charges per month to his wife.
Upholding the magisterial court's order, the ASJ said the man, a Madhya Pradesh native, has the "financial means" to pay interim alimony to his estranged wife whom he had married in November last year.
While asking the man, who was earlier working as a chef in Bangkok, to pay interim maintenance to his wife, the court said his rent agreement showed he was paying a rent of Rs 8,500 per month for his rental accommodation.
"Keeping in view this rate of rent paid by the appellant (man) and the fact that he is a 'chef,' I am of opinion that he has the financial means to pay the interim maintenance and the amount in lieu of accommodation as awarded by the trial court," the judge said.
The man had approached the sessions court, saying he cannot pay alimony to his wife as presently he was not working or earning anything and he was also willing to keep her in his house but it was she who does not wish to reside with him.
The woman had sought maintenance, saying just after their marriage, the man and his family members started making dowry demands and used abusive language against her.
She said the man has worked in various hotels as a chef and earlier he was working in Bangkok where his monthly salary was 1.5 lakh. Presently, he is working in a five-star hotel here while she has no means of livelihood, she said. (More)