The Supreme Court has laid down an eight-point formula to decide the alimony amount amid the ongoing debate over Bengaluru-based techie Atul Subhash. He left behind a 24-page suicide note that repeatedly said, “Justice is Due,” and an 80-minute film that documented his demise, shocking the country.
The Supreme Court stated that Section 498A of the IPC is often exploited as a weapon for personal vendettas. Guidelines for determining the final alimony amount in a divorce case involving a Hindu marriage were established by a top court panel made up of Justices Vikram Nath and Prasanna B. Varale.
“The objective should be to ensure a decent standard of living for the wife without penalizing the husband disproportionately,” said the Supreme Court.
Eight Formulas:
- Social and economic status of both husband and wife.
- Basic needs of the wife and children for the future.
- Qualifications and employment status of both parties.
- Income, property, and financial means of both individuals.
- The wife’s standard of living during her marriage.
- Whether the wife sacrificed her career for family responsibilities.
- Legal costs for a non-working wife.
- The husband’s financial responsibilities and capacity to pay alimony.
