Bangladesh, July 16 -- A minor child's right to maintenance is an "independent and distinct" legal right regardless of whether the parents remain married, the High Court has ruled, saying an unproven claim of divorce or the filing of a fresh lawsuit cannot be used to deny that right.

On Jun 22, a single-member High Court bench of Justice Abdur Rahman delivered the final verdict, upholding the order of the lower court, bdnews24.com reports.

After obtaining the certified copy of the judgment on Thursday, lawyer Israt Jahan, representing plaintiff Halima Khatun, told reporters: "A minor child's maintenance is a completely independent legal right. Whether or not the parents remain married, and regardless of whom the child lives with, the ...