The Karnataka High Court recently said that a husband is bound to take care of his wife and children, both in law and religion.

“The husband is bound to look after wife and children. That is a duty which the law & religion to which the parties belong enjoins the husband with,” the court said in its order.

The court made the observation while dismissing a plea by a Hindu husband seeking to reduce the maintenance amount to his wife and children. A family court at Davanagere has awarded a monthly maintenance of Rs. 3,000 to the wife and Rs. 2,500 each to two daughters.

The counsel appearing for the petitioner-husband contended that the decision to set the monthly maintenance amount at Rs 8,000 was unjustifiable, considering the husband’s limited income and his wife’s alleged behaviour. He also submitted that the husband had a responsibility to support his elderly parents, who were living in a rented home.

While rejecting the petition, the court said that a sum of Rs 8,000 per month was barely enough in today’s day and age.

The High Court also noted that neither the marriage between the parties nor the birth of the children out of wedlock were in dispute.