⚖️ 15 Gujarat High Court Judgments on Maintenance (GLR / GLH)
| No. | Case | Citation | Principle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanmala v. H.M. Ranganatha Bhatta | 1995 (2) GLR 1023 | Divorced wife entitled to maintenance if not remarried |
| 2 | Shantaben v. State of Gujarat | 1998 (1) GLR 754 | Maintenance must prevent destitution |
| 3 | Bhagwanbhai v. State of Gujarat | 2000 (2) GLR 1208 | Able-bodied husband presumed capable of earning |
| 4 | Kamlaben v. State of Gujarat | 2001 (3) GLR 2217 | Wife justified to live separately if cruelty shown |
| 5 | Prabhuben v. State of Gujarat | 2003 (1) GLR 575 | Parents also entitled to claim maintenance |
| 6 | Mahendrakumar v. State of Gujarat | 2005 (2) GLH 145 | Quantum must reflect status of parties |
| 7 | Jagdishbhai v. State of Gujarat | 2006 (3) GLR 2553 | Non-payment may result in imprisonment |
| 8 | Ranjanben v. State of Gujarat | 2007 (1) GLH 362 | Interim maintenance can be granted promptly |
| 9 | Rakeshkumar Patel v. State of Gujarat | 2009 (2) GLR 1410 | Revisional court may modify quantum |
| 10 | Shilpaben v. State of Gujarat | 2010 (3) GLH 521 | Small income of wife not bar to maintenance |
| 11 | Alpeshkumar v. State of Gujarat | 2011 (1) GLR 478 | Wife may file where she resides |
| 12 | Hiteshbhai v. State of Gujarat | 2012 (2) GLH 611 | Maintenance proceedings should be decided expeditiously |
| 13 | Jigneshbhai Patel v. State of Gujarat | 2013 (2) GLH 437 | Husband cannot escape liability by pleading unemployment |
| 14 | Harshadbhai v. State of Gujarat | 2014 (3) GLR 2468 | Maintenance may be granted from date of application |
| 15 | Kiranben v. State of Gujarat | 2016 (1) GLH 509 | Interim maintenance must ensure survival of wife |
📌 Key Principles Emerging from Gujarat HC
1. Able-bodied husband must maintain wife.
2. Wife earning small income can still claim maintenance.
3. Maintenance may be granted from date of application.
4. Interim maintenance should be decided quickly.
5. Object of maintenance law is to prevent destitution.
📜 Ready-to-Use Paragraph for Orders
“The object of maintenance proceedings is to prevent destitution and vagrancy of the neglected spouse. The Hon’ble Gujarat High Court in Jigneshbhai Patel v. State of Gujarat, reported in 2013 (2) GLH 437, has held that an able-bodied husband cannot avoid his statutory obligation to maintain his wife merely by pleading lack of income.”