New Delhi, Sept. 6 -- A claim for maintenance naturally raises several legitimate questions for salaried individuals: What will the court base its decision on to determine the amount of maintenance? Will the court decide the amount based primarily on the income that is shown in salary documents, or will it consider the person's overall financial situation and current economic reality?

A recent Delhi court observation highlighted the fact that maintenance cannot be fixed solely in accordance with the recipient's needs and aspirations. Furthermore, the paying spouse's ability to meet payments on a regular basis is equally significant.

The Delhi Sessions Court's 1 September 2026 order in the maintenance appeal further noted that a person c...