‘Let househusbands be new norm’: Madras High Court gives wife Rs 2.5 crore alimony alimony

The Madras High Court recently ruled in favor of a wife who is seeking Rs 2.5 crore in alimony and maintenance from her husband. The court, comprising Justices GR Swaminathan and MD Sumathi, was hearing the case of an estranged couple who had appealed against a previous family court decision.

The couple had been married since February 2011 and welcomed two children together. However, the wife opted to leave her job to care for the family, while the husband continued to work and visit the family regularly. Despite the wife's efforts to maintain the household, the husband's successful career and desire to move in with his in-laws led to a breakdown in their relationship.

The court recognized the changing roles of men and women in modern society and acknowledged that househusbands could be a viable option for preserving marriage and family. The court emphasized that the expression "homemaker" is gender neutral and that both partners should contribute to the well-being of the family.

Ultimately, the court granted the couple mutual consent divorce, with the husband ordered to pay the stipulated alimony and maintenance to his wife and children.