{
  "id": 14377552,
  "title": "Father-in-law obliged to support widowed daughter-in-law, rules Delhi High Court",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/father-in-law-obliged-to-support-widowed-daughter-in-law-rules-delhi",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T05:33:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/legal-news/father-in-law-support-widow-daughter-in-law-delhi-high-court-10920911/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On October 12, the Delhi High Court ruled that a father-in-law has a duty to support a widowed daughter-in-law, provided she cannot sustain herself either individually or through the assets remaining from her deceased husband's estate. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna issued the decision while partially granting an appeal filed by a woman and her two daughters against a trial court ruling compelling them to vacate a flat owned by her father-in-law. According to the court, under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act (HAMA), a widowed daughter-in-law is deemed a person entitled to maintenance, which encompasses residence when she lacks resources to support herself. However, the court upheld the trial court's decree regarding possession, mandating the father-in-law can only regain it once he provides the widow with appropriate alternative accommodation in the same or a nearby area, or pays her Rs 15,000 monthly in rent to facilitate such relocation. The case originated from a property purchased by the woman's father-in-law. After her husband's demise, she resided in the flat alongside her two daughters. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna noted that the daughter-in-law lacked any earnings or personal property. The trial court had decreed the suit initiated by the father-in-law, ordering the women to relinquish possession and pay Rs 10,000 per month as damages. Displeased with this decision, the daughter-in-law appealed to the high court. The court affirmed that the suit property is jointly owned by the daughter-in-law, and her right to live there is an independent entitlement unaffected by her husband's passing. The judge highlighted that the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956, acknowledges a widowed daughter-in-law as a person entitled to maintenance, which includes residence, if she is unable to support herself financially. The court concluded that the daughter-in-law's father-in-law is obligated to support her, encompassing the provision of residence. \"It is thus evident that the Appellants' right of residence in the suit property is protected, and her right to residence cannot be disregarded, solely based on the Plaintiff's title,\" stated the court. The court balanced the father-in-law's ownership rights against the widow's right to shelter, thus allowing him to reclaim possession but only upon ensuring suitable alternative accommodation for the widow, either in the same or a nearby locality, or by paying her Rs 15,000 monthly rent, which should be adequate to secure comparable alternative housing. The court also overturned the trial court's award of Rs 10,000 per month in damages.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "Kerala High Court dismisses plea by accused in Abhimanyu Murder case to stay trial until completion of investigation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/kerala-high-court-dismisses-plea-by-accused-in-abhimanyu-murder-case",
        "published": "2026-10-13T20:56:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "High Court opens door to prisoner’s egg freezing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/high-court-opens-door-to-prisoners-egg-freezing",
        "published": "2026-10-14T00:18:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "High Court opens door to prisoner’s egg freezing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/high-court-opens-door-to-prisoners-egg-freezing-14330573",
        "published": "2026-10-14T00:18:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "High Court rules in favour of prisoner trying to freeze her eggs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/high-court-rules-in-favour-of-prisoner-trying-to-freeze-her-eggs",
        "published": "2026-10-14T00:33:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Jantar Mantar denotification as protest site based on Supreme Court orders: Delhi Police tells high court",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/jantar-mantar-denotification-as-protest-site-based-on-supreme-court",
        "published": "2026-10-14T01:13:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "High court overturns acquittal of ex-PSS chief over phone data deletion",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/high-court-overturns-acquittal-of-ex-pss-chief-over-phone-data",
        "published": "2026-10-14T06:50:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "High court overturns acquittal of ex-PSS chief over phone data deletion",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/high-court-overturns-acquittal-of-ex-pss-chief-over-phone-data-14392143",
        "published": "2026-10-14T07:22:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}