Alimony, also referred to as maintenance, is the financial assistance one spouse provides to the other during or after divorce or separation. The main objective of alimony is to assist the spouse with lower financial resources in maintaining a reasonable standard of living following the separation. Earlier this month, the divorce of cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and choreographer Dhanashree Verma created buzz.
The Mumbai family court officially finalised their divorce, with reports indicating that Chahal paid an alimony amounting to Rs 4.75 crore. Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a legal requirement where one spouse must provide financial assistance to the other following a separation or divorce.
Originally designed to support wives who may have given up financial independence for marriage and family, its purpose is shifting as more women join the workforce. In India, alimony is regulated by various laws such as the Hindu Marriage Act, Special Marriage Act, Indian Divorce Act, Muslim Women Act, and Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act. "Alimony and spousal maintenance remain crucial aspects of divorce proceedings in India, where courts strive to ensure financial equilibrium between the separating partners.
The quantum and duration of the maintenance in such cases, depends upon various factors, with judicial precedents shaping the legal landscape," said Dinkar Sharma, Company Secretary and Partner, Jotwani Associates. Indian courts assess maintenance claims under multiple law.
