Bengaluru, 11 Nov

Dismissing a man's plea challenging an order to maintain the expenses of his daughters including a minor, the Karnataka High Court underscored that the father is "legally bound to maintain the daughters" and provide them with an "excellent education" even if they are living separately with his former wife.

A single judge bench of Justice Ashok S Kinagi held thus while dismissing a petition filed by one BC Hanumantharaju challenging an order of maintenance issued by the trial court.

The father contended that he is divorced from his wife who is the mother of the respondents and he is not liable to pay compensation as the respondents demand. Moreover, he claimed that the Family Court has not provided sufficient opportunity to him to file a statement of objections and to lead evidence against the application filed by the daughter under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

The trial court vide its order dated 07-03-2023, directed him to pay Rs 6,000 per month to each of his daughters including a minor till they get married. It had further directed him to pay Rs 1,04,000 to the respondents towards educational expenses incurred during the current academic year.

On the other hand the daughters argued that the father is not taking care of the respondent daughters and is also not paying maintenance.

"The petitioners are college-going students. Considering the petitioner's income, the trial Court has rightly awarded Rs 6,000 per month to each respondent from the date of petition till they get married and also education expenses. I do not find any error in the impugned judgment passed by the Family Court," the court ordered. —Salar News