In the middle of the ongoing controversy over Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash’s suicide, the Supreme Court recently outlined an eight-point formula to decide how much alimony needs to be paid in divorce cases. The case has also shone a spotlight on allegations of dowry law misuse, which Subhash used in his tragic 24-page note and 1.5 hour video before taking his life.
The eight factors which came from the divorce case of Praveen Kumar Jain and Anju Jain are aimed at bringing fairness in alimony judgments across the nation. The wife was awarded ₹5 crore against the formula in the case of Praveen Kumar Jain. The factors include:
- If both parties are above both social and economic status.
- Needs of wife and children.
- Both individuals’ educational qualifications and employment.
- Assets and sources of income.
- The wife’s standard of living while married.
- Was the wife … because she left her job or because she stayed home …
- Unemployed wife’s legal costs.
- Anything along the lines of how much the husband earns, the types of roles they have and all of that.
The bench also directed with a provision of ₹1 crore for maintenance and financial security of the couple’s child.
This is a time, the Public outrage over Subhash’s suicide, when the Supreme Court’s directive comes. Its family claims Subhash was harassed by Nikita Singhania and her family, including demanding huge amounts of maintenance money. Nikita and her relatives promise to confront the allegations later but are accused of abetment to suicide, a case the family maintains it will contest.
Calling him a ‘distressed mind,’ subhash’s family has asked for strict action as factors responsible for his distress include the humiliation in court and increasing financial demands. The sad techie’s death brings out the need for a well balanced legal system to avoid breaches of exploitation but deliver justice at the same time.
