Obligatory for woman to serve elderly mother-in-law, says Jharkhand High Court

NT Bureau, Agencies

Ranchi: It is both a cultural practice and an obligation for women in India to serve their elderly mothersin-law and grandmothersin-law, the Jharkhand High Court observed, according to Live Law.

The court was hearing a plea filed by a husband against an order by a family court, which directed him to pay a sum of Rs 30,000 per month to his wife and Rs 15,000 to his son.

The High Court held that the woman was not entitled to maintenance as she refused to live with her husband without reasonable cause.

The court, however, increased the maintenance amount for the son to Rs 25,000 per month. Justice Subhash Chand said it was unreasonable for the wife to insist on living separately from her in-laws.

The judge referred to Article 51A of the Constitution, which deals with the fundamental duties of citizens, one of which is “to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture”, according to Live Law.

“It is the culture in India to serve the old aged mother-in-law or grandmotherin-law, as the case may be, by the wife, in order to preserve this culture,” the court said.