'Unfortunate And Painful': Madhya Pradesh High Court Orders Verification of Father's Income in Daughter's Battle For Maintenance

The Madhya Pradesh High Court at Indore has expressed anguish over the plight of a young woman compelled to approach the courts repeatedly for her maintenance from her father.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Binod Kumar Dwivedi was hearing an appeal filed by father against his daughter, who is pursuing her graduation in Mumbai.

“It is very unfortunate and painful for us that a daughter is struggling to get maintenance from her father. As many as four petitions have been filed by the appellant-father before this Court against the respondent-daughter,” the Bench remarked.

The father has approached the High Court challenging the maintenance order passed by the Family Court of INR 10,000 to be calculated from June 5, 2022. The father had filed three other petitions claiming that he was unable to pay maintenance as he was unemployed and had no source of income. 

The father further claimed that his daughter was residing with her maternal grandfather. But the court rejected this contention, noting that "The maternal grandfather of the respondent must be an aged person, therefore, it cannot be expected from him to maintain the respondent in future".

The daughter  claimed that the total amount due was approximately Rs. 3.75 Lakhs. However, her father has not paid any amount. She alleged that her father had remarried and had a son from the second marriage. 

The court noted that if the father's contentions regarding his income were found to be false, he would be liable for misguiding the court. Therefore, the court directed the SDO and SHO of Indore to submit a report. The court also directed the Deputy Advocate General Sudeep Bhargava to communicate this order to the concerned officials and obtain the report. 

The matter was listed for October 6, 2025. 

Case Title: KS v KU (FA-681-2025)

For Appellant: Advocate Sukh Lal Gwaliory

For Respondent: Advocate Himanshu Nagda

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