HC refuses to hike woman's monthly maintenance

A 72-year-old woman has failed to get relief from the Bombay High Court as it refused to enhance her monthly maintenance of Rs 800 she is getting from her 80-year-old estranged husband.
A division bench of Justices V K Tahilramani and V L Achiliya dismissed an appeal filed by Chhamadevi Sharma seeking hike in monthly maintenance to Rs 5000 from Rs 800 which was awarded by a family court in 2011.
Chhamadevi and Krishnamurari Sharma got married in 1962 and separated three years later issue-less. In 1977, the wife was granted maintenance of Rs 125 which was enhanced to Rs 425 in 1993. In 2011, the amount was raised to Rs 800 by the family court although the wife had demanded Rs 5000.

Aggrieved by the family court order, Chhamadevi approached the high court seeking hike to Rs 5000 per month.
Chhamadevi claimed that she lives in a rented premises and runs a PCO booth earning around Rs 1000 per month. She argued that she has to pay a rent of Rs 1000 for her residence and since she is suffering from health problems needs more money.
The 80-year-old husband on the other hand claimed that he has been unemployed since 1996 and is dependent on his children from his second marriage.
According to the husband, he himself is suffering from heart and prostrate problems and is being taken care of financially by his son.

In its recent order, the high court dismissed the wife's appeal for enhancement while observing that she is at least earning something from her PCO booth.