Hindu Marriage Act Section 24 — Maintenance pendente lite and expenses of proceedings

General

Summary

During a case under this Act, if the court finds that either the wife or the husband has no enough income of their own to support themselves and pay for the legal case, the court can order the other spouse to pay for the case expenses and a monthly amount during the case. The monthly amount is decided by the court based on both spouses’ incomes and what seems reasonable. The request for these payments should, as far as possible, be decided within sixty days after the other spouse receives notice of the request.

Official Text

Where in any proceeding under this Act it appears to the court that either the wife or the husband, as the case may be, has no independent income sufficient for her or his support and the necessary expenses of the proceeding, it may, on the application of the wife or the husband, order the respondent to pay to the petitioner the expenses of the proceeding, and monthly during the proceeding such sum as, having regard to the petitioner’s own income and the income of the respondent, it may seem to the court to be reasonable. 6[Provided that the application for the payment of the expenses of the proceeding and such monthly sum during the proceeding, shall, as far as possible, be disposed of within sixty days from the date of service of notice on the wife or the husband, as the case may be.]