INR 2 Crore to INR 50 Lakh: Why Karnataka HC Cut Alimony for Doctor Wife While Upholding Divorce

The Karnataka High Court has reduced the permanent alimony awarded to a Mangaluru-based doctor from INR 2 crore to INR 50 lakh while upholding her divorce from her husband on the ground of cruelty. The court said permanent alimony is intended to ensure reasonable maintenance and dignity and is not meant to equalise the wealth or assets of both spouses.

A Division Bench of Justice D K Singh and Justice H Shanthi Bhushan passed the order while hearing the husband's appeal against a Family Court decree that had dissolved the marriage and awarded INR 2 crore as permanent alimony, reported The Economic Times. The couple, who were college classmates, married in Mangaluru in 2011 and later moved to the UK, where they had two daughters.

Why Karnataka HC Upheld Divorce

The wife had approached the Mangaluru Family Court seeking divorce on grounds of physical and mental cruelty. According to the case record, she alleged that her husband had physically assaulted her, behaved abusively and attempted to control aspects of her personal and professional life. ‘Be Happy, No Alimony Asked’: Supreme Court Grants Divorce, Orders Man To Pay INR 50 Lakh Despite Wife Not Seeking It.

WhatsApp conversations between the couple were among the evidence considered by the court. The record included messages in which the husband admitted to hitting his wife and later apologised. The court also considered allegations concerning his conduct towards her parents.

The wife further alleged that her husband repeatedly claimed she was suffering from mental illness. The court noted that such allegations were not supported by medical or psychiatric evidence. The High Court upheld the finding of cruelty and confirmed the divorce decree. ‘Beg, Borrow, Steal, That Is the Principle. To Maintain Your Wife’: Supreme Court Questions Husband’s Claim of Earning INR 9,000 a Month As Wife Seeks More Alimony.

Why Alimony Was Reduced From INR 2 Crore to INR 50 Lakh

The wife had sought INR 5 crore as permanent alimony, while the Family Court had awarded INR 2 crore. The husband challenged the amount before the High Court, arguing that it was excessive given his former wife's financial independence.

The High Court agreed that the INR 2 crore award was on the higher side. It noted that the woman is a qualified medical professional, is employed and has an independent source of income and her own financial assets.

The court therefore reduced the permanent alimony to INR 50 lakh. It emphasised that alimony should have a reasonable relationship with the recipient's actual needs and the paying spouse's financial capacity rather than being used to equalise the wealth of the parties.

Husband To Pay INR 50,000 Monthly for Two Daughters

The High Court also issued directions concerning the couple's two minor daughters. The mother was granted exclusive physical custody, while the father was given visitation rights on Saturdays and Sundays for three hours each day in the mother's presence. He was also allowed communication with the children through audio or video calls.

The husband was directed to pay INR 25,000 per month for each daughter, amounting to INR 50,000 per month, towards their maintenance, education, medical and other reasonable needs. The amount will increase by INR 5,000 per child after every year until each child reaches majority.

The court also directed the parents to continue fulfilling their responsibilities towards their children and refrain from making disparaging remarks about each other in the children's presence. The mother was further directed not to relocate the children outside India without informing the father and obtaining appropriate court orders where required.

Karnataka HC's Key Observation on Permanent Alimony

The judgment makes a distinction between providing financial security to a spouse after divorce and equalising the wealth of two financially independent parties. In this case, the wife's professional qualification, employment, independent income and financial assets were considered while determining the final amount of permanent alimony.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 18, 2026 11:42 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).