NEW DELHI: In a significant ruling that could influence future maintenance disputes, the Supreme Court has directed a man to pay his divorced wife Rs 50,000 per month as permanent alimony, with a 5% increase every two years. The top court also upheld an earlier order requiring him to clear the home loan and transfer the property to his former spouse.The Court noted that the revised amount better reflects the standard of living she enjoyed during her marriage to her former husband, a hotel management professional. The woman, who has remained unmarried and financially dependent since the divorce, was earlier receiving Rs 20,000 per month as alimony, an amount originally granted as interim maintenance. She approached the apex court seeking a revision, arguing that her former husband was now earning substantially more than he was during their separation. A bench led by Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed that the woman is entitled to maintain a standard of living consistent with what she had during the marriage. “The quantum of permanent alimony fixed by the High Court requires revision,” the court said, pointing to the man’s career trajectory and income history, which once reflected earnings of over Rs 21 lakh per year.“The wife, who has remained unmarried and is living independently, is entitled to a level of maintenance that reasonably secures her future”, the judgment further said. The man had argued that his current income was lower, that he had since remarried, and had additional responsibilities, including caring for elderly parents. However, the court was not convinced, stating that past and potential earning capacity must be considered in maintenance cases. It also warned against attempts to suppress income to reduce alimony obligations. The court agreed that the couple’s adult son, now 26, is no longer entitled to regular maintenance. “It is open to the husband to voluntarily assist him with educational or other reasonable expenses,” the judgment said.However, it clarified that his inheritance rights remain intact and he can pursue any claims under the law. The ruling brings to a close a legal battle that began in 2008, when the man filed for divorce. A trial court initially dismissed the claim, but the High Court granted divorce in 2019, citing cruelty and an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. Legal experts say the ruling strengthens the rights of women seeking dignified maintenance after divorce. Neelam Singh, Advocate-on-Record at Lucknow High Court, was quoted by ET and called it “a benchmark that reinforces the court’s role as a guardian of justice,” while Magnus Legal Services’ Nikita Anand added that “maintenance is not charity but a right… calibrated to genuine financial realities.”The Apex Court clarified that income suppression tactics will not help those trying to evade maintenance. The husband’s current earnings were evaluated alongside his career history, revealing a clear ability to meet the revised obligation.