Husband of PCS Officer Jyoti Maurya Seeks Alimony Amid Divorce Petition. High Court Issues Notice. The law states that a husband can also claim alimony.
Jyoti Maurya: The Allahabad High Court recently issued a notice in a significant case involving PCS officer Jyoti Maurya. The case is related to a petition filed by her husband, Alok Maurya, in which he has sought alimony from his wife. This case has once again raised the question of whether a husband can also claim alimony from his wife in divorce cases and what the law says on this.
The High Court's Order and the Case
Alok Maurya has challenged the order of the Family Court in Prayagraj, which had dismissed his petition seeking alimony from his wife. The Allahabad High Court, considering the petition as maintainable, has issued a notice to Jyoti Maurya and fixed the next hearing date for August 8th.
Why Did Alok Maurya Seek Alimony?
Alok Maurya claims that he is a regular government employee and suffers from several health problems. On the other hand, his wife is an administrative officer and is financially more capable.
He stated that his wife, Jyoti Maurya, had filed a divorce petition in the Family Court, which is still pending. During this time, he filed a petition for maintenance in the Family Court under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, which was dismissed on January 4, 2025.
What Does the Law Say?
Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, clearly states that if a divorce or other matrimonial dispute is pending in court and either the husband or wife is unable to support themselves, they can seek interim maintenance from the other party.
This section is gender-neutral, meaning that it gives equal rights to men. If the husband can prove that he is financially weak and his wife's income is much higher than his, he can get alimony.
Appeal in Court and Next Steps
Alok Maurya filed a first appeal in the Allahabad High Court against the order of the Family Court. In the petition, he also mentioned that he had filed this appeal with a delay of 77 days. He also filed an application to condone the delay. The High Court has directed him to submit an English translation of the Family Court's decision.
Marriage Took Place in 2010
Alok Maurya and Jyoti Maurya were married in the year 2010. In 2009, Alok was appointed as a sanitation worker in the Panchayati Raj Department. He claimed that he provided every possible assistance for his wife's education and career in Prayagraj.
According to Alok, his wife's behavior and attitude towards the family changed after Jyoti Maurya passed the PSC exam and became an SDM in 2015. This is the reason why he is now seeking alimony.
