Supreme Court modifies Calcutta High Court’s alimony order in 2025 divorce case.
CASE SUMMARY – In Rakhi Sadhukhan vs. Raja Sadhukhan (2025 INSC 789), the Supreme Court of India addressed the adequacy of permanent alimony granted to a wife post-divorce.SC raises alimony to ₹50,000 for Rakhi Sadhukhan in divorce case. While the Calcutta High Court had awarded ₹20,000/month, the Supreme Court revised it to ₹50,000/month with a biennial 5% increase, citing the husband’s income and the standard of living during marriage. The Court noted the wife’s financial dependence, inflation, and that the son, now 26, required no obligatory support. The decision reinforces the importance of equitable maintenance aligned with marital lifestyle and contemporary financial realities.
SC RAISES ALIMONY TO ₹50,000 FOR RAKHI SADHUKHAN IN DIVORCE CASE
| ASPECTS | DETAILS |
| Case Title | Rakhi Sadhukhan vs. Raja Sadhukhan |
| Introduction | Appeal filed by the wife challenging alimony amount set by Calcutta High Court in a divorce decree. |
| Factual Background | Married in 1997; a son born in 1998; husband filed for divorce in 2008 on cruelty grounds; multiple interim maintenance orders passed; High Court granted divorce and alimony. |
| Legal Issues | Whether the permanent alimony awarded (Rs. 20,000/month) was adequate considering the respondent’s income and standard of living. |
| Applicable Law |
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| Analysis | SC examined past and current income, lifestyle during marriage, wife’s financial dependence, inflation, and son’s age. |
| Conclusion | SC enhanced alimony to Rs. 50,000/month with 5% increase every two years; no mandatory support for 26-year-old son. |
| Current Scenario | Final decree modified; contempt petition disposed; son’s inheritance rights remain intact. |
“Maintenance must not merely sustain, it must dignify.”
SOURCE – SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
READ ALSO – MAINTENANCE PENDENTE LITE AND EXPENSES OF PROCEEDINGS (SECTION 24 OF THE HMA ,1955)
