“Gujarat High Court Grants Alimony in Marriage Dissolution Case, Emphasizing ‘Wife’s Entitlement to Comparable Standard of Living'”
In a landmark judgment, the Gujarat High Court, led by justices Ashutosh Shastri and Hemant M. Prachchhak, has set a precedent in matrimonial law by granting a lump sum permanent alimony of Rs.12,50,000. This decision came in the case of Pratiksha D/O Anantbhai Ratilal Prajapati vs. Kalpeshbhai Bhagwanbhai Jesalpura, challenging the Family Court’s decree of marriage dissolution.
The High Court, in its decision dated December 12, 2023, underlined the importance of ensuring a comparable standard of living for the wife, stating, “the wife is entitled to maintain a standard of living similar to the husband’s.” This observation emphasizes the court’s commitment to ensuring fairness and equality in marital dissolution cases.
The appeal was filed against the original judgment of the Family Court, which had dissolved the marriage but did not grant alimony to the appellant. The High Court, after careful examination of the evidence and income of both parties, modified the Family Court’s decision. The justices highlighted a significant income disparity between the appellant and the respondent, which necessitated the alimony award.
Justice Shastri and Justice Prachchhak noted the irrefutable evidence of marital cruelty and a clear non-analytical approach in the Family Court’s findings. They pointed out that the Family Court’s conclusion of cruelty by the wife was unsupported by concrete evidence.
The Court also acknowledged the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, citing the impossibility of reconciliation and the need to put an end to ongoing litigation. Advocates B. J. Trivedi and Premal R. Joshi represented the appellant and respondent, respectively, in this critical case.
In their ruling, the justices referred to several landmark cases, including Rajnesh vs. Neha and Amit Kumar vs. Suman Beniwal, underlining the legal framework for determining alimony and addressing the nuances of marital dissolution.
This judgment is seen as a significant step towards addressing the financial implications of marriage dissolution and setting a benchmark for future alimony determinations in India. The decision is being hailed as a progressive move towards ensuring equitable treatment of spouses in matrimonial disputes.
Date of Decision: 12-12-2023
PRATIKSHA VS KALPESHBHAI BHAGWANBHAI JESALPURA
