A video is doing rounds on social media in which a judge can be seen reprimanding a woman lawyer who is demanding over Rs 6 lakhs ($7147) per month as alimony from her clients ex-husband.
The viral video is of court proceedings from the Karnataka High Court where the judge refused to entertain the woman’s request for alimony, saying she could start earning if she wanted to spend so much.
The woman’s lawyer tried to secure a monthly maintenance amount of Rs. 6,16,300 from her ex-husband, which the judge discarded as an unreasonable demand.
The video is from August 20 when the case was being heard on the issue of non-filling of the expenditure of a woman named Radha Munukuntla.
In the video, the woman’s lawyer claimed that she needs Rs 4 to 5 lakh per month for treatment of her knee pain, physiotherapy, medicines and other related expenses. For her “basic needs” of bangles, sandals, slippers, watches etc, she demanded Rs 50,000 per month and Rs 60,000 on top for food.
The woman’s lawyer also points out how her ex-husband wears “all branded clothes” – like Calvin Klein t-shirts that cost Rs 10,000 each – whereas she has to make do with old dresses.
The ex-husband is currently paying for their children’s school and tuition fees, as per the video. Hence, the woman asking for such a whopping amount of alimony has no responsibility for the kids, as per the court.
“Please don’t tell the court that this is what a person requires,” the judge said in response to the petition.
“Six lakh, sixteen thousand, three hundred per month? Does anybody spend this much? A single lady for herself?” the judge asked.
“Well if she wants to spend, let her earn. Not on the husband,” the Karnataka High Court judge continued.
The judge also asked the woman’s lawyer to explain to her that her demand was unreasonable. “You have no other responsibility of the family. You don’t have to take care of the children,” she pointed out, adding that alimony should not be a punishment to the husband.
The video of judge’s take on the petition has been widely appreciated by netizens.
“Once again female judges showing the way with right questions and correct judgements! Hope this happens a lot more often,” wrote one X user.
“This Judge is a truly a future CJI material. Hope this is noticed and taken into cognisance,” another said.
