It's Right. Muslim Women Can Get Maintenance After Divorce: SC

• By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
• Jul 10, 2024
• 282

Now Muslim women will also get alimony after divorce. The Supreme Court on Wednesday while giving its verdict said that under Section 125 of the CRPC, now Muslim women can also use this law to get alimony after divorce. 

It has nothing to do with religion. A bench of Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Augustine George Masih has given this verdict. 

The bench of the court further said that Section 125 will now be applicable to all married women.

A Muslim man had challenged the Hyderabad High Court order asking him to pay Rs 10,000 as interim alimony to his ex-wife. The man's lawyer argued that due to the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, a divorced Muslim woman cannot claim alimony under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code. 

However, the Supreme Court bench rejected this argument and held that a Muslim woman also has a right to alimony under the general law.

In its decision, the Supreme Court said that paying alimony is not a charity but a fundamental right of married women. The court said that this right goes beyond the boundaries of religion and strengthens the principle of gender equality and economic security for all married women. Judge Nagarathna, while delivering the verdict, said that we dismiss this appeal, our main conclusion is that Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure will apply to all women, not just married women.

In this important decision, the Supreme Court also said that now the time has come for Indian men to understand how important the role of housewives and their sacrifices are in running the house. The bench of the court emphasized that the husband should give financial help to his wife. 

It also suggested that the husband and wife should open a bank account together and both should have ATM cards. This will strengthen the financial position of women in the house