New Delhi: Pets help humans cope with the emotional toll of broken relationships, said a Mumbai magistrate’s court while awarding interim maintenance to a 55-year-old woman, citing her health issues and her dependents, three Rottweilers. Had demanded maintenance.
The court ordered the husband to pay Rs 50,000 per month as interim maintenance to the wife from the date of filing of her application till the decision on her main petition.
“Pets are also an integral part of a civilized lifestyle. Metropolitan Magistrate Komalsingh Rajput said, pets are essential for humans to lead a healthy life as they fill the emotional gap caused by broken relationships.
The order was passed on June 20, but became available recently.
The woman had filed an application under Section 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 seeking relief under this law.
The couple was married in September 1986 and has two daughters, according to the order seen by ThePrint. However, due to some differences, the husband sent the wife to Mumbai in 2021. The order also states that the wife has alleged that she faced domestic violence during their marriage.
The woman has sought maintenance of Rs 70,000 per month citing her health issues, lack of source of income and relying on her dogs.
She claimed that at the time of separation, the husband had assured her of maintenance and other basic needs. However, he has now told the magistrate that the promise was not kept.
Denying the allegations of domestic violence, the man claimed that he had suffered losses in his business and would not be able to maintain her.
However, the court rejected the husband’s arguments. “Though it has been denied that the respondent has suffered commercial loss and is unable to provide maintenance, no cogent material has been produced to draw any such conclusion. Further, even if it is assumed that they have suffered any such loss, the fact itself is not sufficient to deny liability,” it said.
The man had also argued against his wife’s claim of maintenance for three pets, but the court felt that this could not be a ground to reduce the amount.
“The parties belong to good financial background. Maintenance should be given and that too with lifestyle and requirements suitable to her,” the court said.
(Edited by Tony Rae)
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