Maintenance Laws in India: Section 125 CrPC vs Section 144 BNSS Explained

Maintenance Laws in India: Section 125 CrPC and Section 144 BNSS Explained in Detail

Introduction:

Maintenance ek aisa legal right hai jo Section 125 CrPC aur Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) ke under diya jata hai. Yeh law un logon ko financial support provide karta hai jo khud apne liye earn nahi kar sakte, jaise wives, minor children, aur dependent parents.

Section 125 CrPC jo Criminal Procedure Code ka part hai, aur Section 144 BNSS, jo Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 ka hissa hai, dono hi maintenance ke provisions ko govern karte hain. BNSS ne purani CrPC provisions ko update kiya hai, jisme zyada inclusive aur gender-neutral language ka use kiya gaya hai. Is article mein hum samjhenge ki Section 125 CrPC aur Section 144 BNSS maintenance ke law ko kaise define karte hain, kaise claim kar sakte hain, aur unke important legal aspects kya hain.

Section 125 CrPC: Kya Hai?

Section 125 CrPC ek social welfare law hai jo un individuals ko financial support deta hai jo apne liye khud kamai nahi kar sakte. Yeh law specifically married women, minor children, aur elderly parents ko target karta hai. Yeh un logon ko protect karta hai jo helpless hain aur unhe support ki zarurat hai.

Iska main objective yeh hai ki jo individual apni basic needs (khana, kapda, aur shelter) pura nahi kar pa raha, usse legal framework ke through support mile. Section 125 CrPC ko enforcable banaya gaya tha taaki wife, children, aur dependent parents ko unka haq mil sake.

Key Provisions of Section 125 CrPC

1. Eligibility for Maintenance:
   • Wives are eligible for maintenance under Section 125 if:
     • Husband unhe financial support nahi de raha ho
     • Wife self-sufficient nahi hai
     • Wife ko neglect ya abuse ho raha ho
   • Minor children (agar wo physically ya mentally disabled hain) ko bhi maintenance milta hai.
   • Parents ko maintenance milta hai agar wo elderly ho aur unhe financial support ki zarurat ho.
2. Conditions for Maintenance:
   • Wife ko tab maintenance milega jab husband unhe financial support na de raha ho, ya wo self-sufficient nahi ho.
   • Minor children ko bhi maintenance milta hai, especially agar wo physically ya mentally disabled hain.
   • Parents ko maintenance milta hai agar wo apne children par dependent hain.
3. Maintenance Amount:
   • Maintenance ka amount fix nahi hota. Court husband ki income aur wife ke needs ko dekhte hue decide karta hai.
   • Wife ko ₹3,000 se ₹25,000 ya zyada maintenance mil sakta hai, depending on husband’s income. Similarly, children aur parents ko bhi maintenance diya jata hai.

Procedure Under Section 125 CrPC: Maintenance Claim Kaise Karein?

1. Petition File Karein:
   • Maintenance claim karne ke liye sabse pehle Magistrate Court mein petition file karni hoti hai. Aapko proofs aur documents (income proof, medical reports, etc.) court ko dikhane hote hain.
2. Notice Issue Hona:
   • Court, opposite party (respondent) ko notice issue karta hai jisme unhe respond karna hota hai.
3. Interim Relief:
   • Jab tak case ka final hearing nahi hota, toh court temporary relief bhi de sakta hai. Yeh short-term financial support hota hai.
4. Final Hearing:
   • Final hearing mein sabhi evidence ke baad, court final maintenance order pass karta hai.
5. Enforcement:
   • Agar maintenance nahi diya jata, toh court enforcement mechanism ke through paisa recover kar sakta hai. Agar respondent payment nahi karta, toh uske against legal action liya jata hai.

Section 144 BNSS: Key Updates

Section 144 BNSS, jo Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 ka hissa hai, Section 125 CrPC ko update karta hai. Ismein kuch major provisions hain jo maintenance ko zyada inclusive aur gender-neutral banate hain. BNSS ne gender equality aur quick resolution ko promote kiya hai, jo earlier CrPC provisions mein missing tha.

Key Updates Under Section 144 BNSS:

1. Gender-Neutral Language:
   • Section 144 BNSS mein gender-neutral language ka istemal kiya gaya hai. Iska matlab hai ki male aur female dono spouses ko maintenance milne ka right diya gaya hai. Pehle Section 125 CrPC mein sirf women ko maintenance milta tha, lekin BNSS ke under, agar husband financially dependent ho, toh wo bhi maintenance claim kar sakte hain.
2. Maintenance for Parents:
   • Section 144 BNSS mein parents ko bhi maintenance claim karne ka adhikar diya gaya hai agar wo apne children par dependent hain aur unhe financial help ki zarurat hai. Yeh provision elderly parents ke liye kaafi helpful hai.
3. Time-Bound Trials:
   • BNSS mein summary trial ka provision diya gaya hai, jisme maintenance cases ko jaldi solve karne ki koshish ki jaati hai. Iska aim hai case ko jaldi resolve karna, taaki claimants ko timely relief mile.
4. Faster Enforcement of Maintenance Orders:
   • Enforcement ka process BNSS mein zyada simplified kiya gaya hai. Agar respondent maintenance nahi deta, toh court quicker enforcement mechanisms ko implement kar sakta hai, taaki claimant ko timely relief mile.

Case Example 1: Supreme Court Ruling on Maintenance for Wife

Case: Rajnesh v. Neha (2021)
Court: Supreme Court of India
Summary:
Is case mein Supreme Court ne wife ke maintenance claim ko consider kiya tha, jahan husband ne wife ko financial support deny kar diya tha. Wife ne claim kiya tha ki husband unke liye maintenance provide nahi kar raha hai, aur wo apni basic needs pura karne mein incapable thi.

Court ne husband ki income ko dekhte hue, wife ko maintenance dene ka order diya tha. Is case mein court ne husband ki financial capacity aur wife ki basic needs ko dekhte hue, ₹25,000 per month maintenance order kiya tha.

Key Takeaway:
Yeh case clear karta hai ki Section 125 CrPC mein, maintenance tab diya jata hai jab husband apni wife ko financially neglect karta hai, aur court husband ki income ko dekhte hue fair maintenance amount decide karta hai.

Case Example 2: Maintenance for Children

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Case: K. Srinivas v. K. Annapurna (2019)
Court: Andhra Pradesh High Court
Summary:
Is case mein father ne apne children ke liye maintenance claim kiya tha, kyunki wife ke separation ke baad, father unko financially support nahi kar raha tha. Children ko education, food, aur healthcare ki zarurat thi, lekin father unko support nahi de raha tha.

Court ne Section 125 CrPC ke under, father ko monthly maintenance order kiya tha. Court ne ye bhi kaha ki children ko education aur basic needs ke liye support milna zaroori hai, aur father ki income ke hisaab se maintenance amount set kiya gaya. ₹10,000 per child monthly maintenance kiya gaya tha.

Key Takeaway:
Yeh case yeh batata hai ki minor children ko maintenance dena mandatory hai, aur father ko financial responsibility se bacha nahi sakte. Agar father financially capable hai, toh usse children ki basic needs ko pura karna padega.

Case Example 3: Maintenance for Elderly Parents

Case: P.S. Tiwari v. Usha Tiwari (2018)
Court: Delhi High Court
Summary:
Is case mein elderly mother ne apne son ke khilaf maintenance claim file ki thi. Mother ne claim kiya tha ki wo financial support ke bina jeene ke liye struggling hai, aur unki son ki income achi thi. Son ne apni mother ke liye maintenance dene se inkaar kar diya tha.

Court ne Section 125 CrPC ke under parents ko maintenance dene ka decision diya aur son ko ₹20,000 per month maintenance pay karne ka order diya. Court ne yeh bhi notice kiya ki son ko apne elderly parents ki care and support deni chahiye, chahe unki apni financial capacity kuch bhi ho.

Key Takeaway:
Yeh case yeh batata hai ki elderly parents ko bhi financial support milna zaroori hai. Agar children apne parents par dependent hain, toh Section 125 CrPC ke tahat unhe maintenance dena padta hai.

Differences Between Section 125 CrPC and Section 144 BNSS

How Much Maintenance is Granted Under BNSS?

Section 144 BNSS ke under, maintenance amount ko husband’s financial capacity aur claimant’s needs ke hisaab se decide kiya jata hai. Maintenance amount ka koi fixed rule nahi hai, but general cases mein yeh ranges hota hai:

1. Wife: Agar wife ko maintenance claim karna hai, toh uske living expenses, health needs, aur husband ki financial situation ko dekhte hue amount decide hota hai. Usually, wife ko ₹3,000 se ₹25,000 ya usse zyada diya jata hai.
2. Children: Agar children ko maintenance milna hai, toh unke basic needs jaise education, healthcare, aur food ko dhyan mein rakhte hue, financial support diya jata hai.
3. Parents: Elderly parents ke maintenance claim ke liye, court unki dependency aur health conditions ko dekhkar amount decide karta hai.

Conclusion

Section 125 CrPC aur Section 144 BNSS dono hi maintenance laws un logon ko financial support dene ke liye kaam karte hain jo khud apne liye earn nahi kar sakte. Section 125 CrPC pehle se well-established law tha, lekin BNSS ne maintenance provisions ko zyada inclusive aur gender-neutral banaya hai, jisme male aur female spouses dono ko equal right milta hai. Iske alawa, elderly parents ko bhi maintenance ka adhikar diya gaya hai.

BNSS ne summary trials aur faster enforcement ke provisions ke through maintenance claims ko zyada accessible aur timely banaya hai. Yeh ensure karta hai ki dependent individuals ko financial support mil sake, aur wo apni zindagi dignity ke saath jee sakein.