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National
Jharkhand HC orders Rs 40 lakh alimony for woman, citing 42-year survival need
✍️ The Indian Express
🗓 24 Aug 2026, 11:33 AM
👁 2
The Jharkhand High Court has increased a divorced woman's alimony to Rs 40 lakh, stating she must sustain herself for the next 42 years.
The Jharkhand High Court in Ranchi has ordered that a divorced woman receive an alimony of Rs 40 lakh, a significant increase from the amount previously awarded by the lower court. The bench emphasized that the petitioner, who is in her early thirties, faces a long financial horizon and must be able to support herself for the next 42 years.
The case originated when the woman filed a petition seeking a higher maintenance amount, arguing that the earlier decree did not account for inflation, rising living costs, and her limited earning capacity. The trial court had set the alimony at a modest figure, which the appellant deemed insufficient for her long‑term needs.
In its ruling, the High Court considered factors such as the spouse’s earning potential, the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage, and the projected duration of financial dependence. By fixing the alimony at Rs 40 lakh, the court aimed to provide a realistic safety net, reflecting the principles of equity and justice in family law.
The case originated when the woman filed a petition seeking a higher maintenance amount, arguing that the earlier decree did not account for inflation, rising living costs, and her limited earning capacity. The trial court had set the alimony at a modest figure, which the appellant deemed insufficient for her long‑term needs.
In its ruling, the High Court considered factors such as the spouse’s earning potential, the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage, and the projected duration of financial dependence. By fixing the alimony at Rs 40 lakh, the court aimed to provide a realistic safety net, reflecting the principles of equity and justice in family law.