Man seeks alimony from wife he helped study
Written by Writer on Saturday, October 25th, 2008
Man seeks alimony from wife he helped study
25 Oct 2008, Supriya Bhardwaj, TNN
CHANDIGARH: In a society where alimony and prenup are still considered too mercenary and practical for the sacred institution of marriage, a former lawyer doesn’t mind going the unconventional way and seeking maintenance from his estranged wife even as their divorce case is being fought in the court.
Claiming to be in dire straits, Rupinder Singh Ankhi, 44, moved the city’s district courts with an application to get alimony from his wife. The application, filed under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, requests the court to grant Mohali resident Ankhi maintenance and litigation expenses from his 31-year-old wife during the pendency of their divorce case. His spouse is employed with the education department.
Claiming he is on the verge of starvation and unable to earn a livelihood, Ankhi’s application states, ‘‘During initial days, the applicant (Ankhi) had to cut down on expenditure for his necessities to facilitate his wife’s education. As now, my wife is a government employee and earning more than Rs 10,000, hence, maintenance pendente lite and litigation expenses should be granted to me.’’
The court has fixed December 3 for hearing the arguments in order to decide whether the application should be allowed or not, and if it is, then how much money should be given to Ankhi.
But, to begin with, things were pretty rosy for the Ankhis. Almost 23 years ago — in September 1985 — the now-separated couple married after they fell in love. Trouble brew in paradise when the Punjab and Haryana Bar Association suspended Ankhi’s license in 2004.
Getting nostalgic, Ankhi said, ‘‘My license to practice as a lawyer was suspended by the bar association and now the case is pending before the Bar Council of India. Till that is not decided, I’m broke and don’t have enough money to even buy two square meals a day.’’
Refuting these claims, the reply of Ankhi’s wife states, ‘‘He is an able-bodied person, educated, and is in a position to earn his livelihood. In case he is not earning anything, then how can he afford to have all the luxuries at his disposal in his house.’’ She added the educational expenses were incurred by her family, and not Ankhi, as he had claimed.
