Kerala High Court
Basil T.K vs Shyni Basil on 24 September, 2025
Author: P.V. Kunhikrishnan
Bench: P.V.Kunhikrishnan
2025:KER:71394
RPFC NO. 241 OF 2020
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN
WEDNESDAY,THE 24TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2025 / 2ND ASWINA, 1947
RPFC NO. 241 OF 2020
AGAINST THE ORDER DATED 23.07.2020 IN MC NO.267 OF 2016 OF
FAMILY COURT,ERNAKULAM
REVISION PETITIONER/RESPONDENT:
BASIL T.K.
AGED 47 YEARS
S/O KURIAKOSE, THOMBRA HOUSE, PACHALAM
P.O.ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, NOW RESIDING AT MELATHU
PARAMBIL HOUSE, ST. JOHNS STREET, OPPOSITE
ST.JOHNS CONVENT, CHIYYARAM P.O.CHIYYARAM
VILLAGE, THRISSUR DISTRICT, PIN-680 026.
BY ADVS.
SRI.S.RENJITH
SHRI.SUNIL KUMAR K.R.
RESPONDENTS/PETITIONERS:
1 SHYNI BASIL
AGED 40 YEARS
W/O BASIL T.K. D/O LATE V.J. DEVASIS,
VALIYAVEETTIL HOUSE, VADUTHALA P.O.ERNAKULAM
DISTRICT, PIN-682 023.
2 NISHA BASIL,
AGED 19 YEARS
D/O BASIL T.K,VALIYAVEETTIL HOUSE, VADUTHALA
P.O.ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN-682 023.
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RPFC NO. 241 OF 2020
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3 NAVYA BASIL,
AGED 17 YEARS
MINOR, D/O BASIL T.K,VALIYAVEETTIL HOUSE,
VADUTHALA P.O.ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN-682 023.
REP BY HER MOTHER SHYNI BASIL, AGED 40, W/O
BASIL T.K.
BY ADVS.
SHRI.O.SAJEEVAN
SHRI.SOORAJ T.S.
THIS REV.PETITION(FAMILY COURT) HAVING COME UP FOR
ADMISSION ON 24.09.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY
DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
2025:KER:71394
RPFC NO. 241 OF 2020
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P.V. KUNHIKRISHNAN, J.
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R.P.F.C. No.241 of 2020
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Dated this the 24th day of September, 2025
ORDER
This revision petition is filed against the order dated 23.07.2020 in MC No.267/2016 of Family Court, Ernakulam.
As per the above order, the Family Court granted maintenance to the respondents wife and children at the rate of Rs.6,000/-
each. Aggrieved by the same, this revision petition is filed.
2. Heard.
3. The marriage and paternity of the children are not disputed. Admittedly the petitioner earlier filed a petition for restitution of conjugal rights and the same was closed because the petitioner deposed before the Family Court that he is not ready to take back the wife and children. Therefore it is clear that the 1st respondent is living separately for sufficient reason.
4. As far as the quantum of maintenance is concerned, the Family Court granted maintenance at the rate of Rs.6,000/-
each. The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the 2025:KER:71394 RPFC NO. 241 OF 2020 4 petitioner produced Exts.B7 and B8 salary certificate and his income is only Rs.14,000/-. As I mentioned earlier, the marriage and paternity of the children are not disputed. If the petitioner is getting only a limited income from the present job, he has to find out some other job and maintain his wife and children. That is the duty of the husband. I am not in a position to accept the contention of the petitioner based on Exts.B7 and B8. The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the minor children are now major. I make it clear that, the petitioner need to pay maintenance to respondents 2 and 3, only till the date on which they attained majority, if they have no physical disability. As far the impugned order is concerned, I see no reason to interfere with the same.
5. Section 125 Cr.P.C. is a benevolent provision to protect the rights of women who are abandoned by their husbands. In Bhuwan Mohan Singh v. Meena and Others [2014 KHC 4455], the Apex Court held as follows:
3. Be it ingeminated that S.125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (for short "the Code") was conceived to ameliorate the agony, anguish, financial suffering of a woman who left her 2025:KER:71394 RPFC NO. 241 OF 2020 5 matrimonial home for the reasons provided in the provision so that some suitable arrangements can be made by the Court and she can sustain herself and also her children if they are with her. The concept of sustenance does not necessarily mean to lead the life of an animal, feel like an unperson to be thrown away from grace and roam for her basic maintenance somewhere else. She is entitled in law to lead a life in the similar manner as she would have lived in the house of her husband. That is where the status and strata come into play, and that is where the obligations of the husband, in case of a wife, become a prominent one. In a proceeding of this nature, the husband cannot take subterfuges to deprive her of the benefit of living with dignity. Regard being had to the solemn pledge at the time of marriage and also in consonance with the statutory law that governs the field, it is the obligation of the husband to see that the wife does not become a destitute, a beggar. A situation is not to be maladroitly created whereunder she is compelled to resign to her fate and think of life "dust unto dust". It is totally impermissible. In fact, it is the sacrosanct duty to render the financial support even if the husband is required to earn money with physical labour, if he is able bodied. There is no escape route unless there is an order from the Court that the wife is not entitled to get maintenance from the husband 2025:KER:71394 RPFC NO. 241 OF 2020 6 on any legally permissible grounds.
6. In Ramesh Chander Kaushal, Captain v. Veena Kaushal [1978 KHC 607] the Apex Court observed like this:
9. This provision is a measure of social justice and specially enacted to protect women and children and falls within the constitutional sweep of Art.15 (3) reinforced by Art. 39. We have no doubt that sections of statutes calling for construction by courts are not petrified print but vibrant words with social functions to fulfil. The brooding presence of the constitutional empathy for the weaker sections like women and children must inform interpretation if it has to have social relevance. So viewed, it is possible to the selective in picking out that interpretation out of two alternatives which advances the cause - the cause of the derelicts.
7. In Sunita Kachwaha and Others v. Anil Kachwaha [2014 KHC 4690] the Apex Court observed like this:
8. The proceeding under S.125 CrPC is summary in nature. In a proceeding under S.125 CrPC, it is not necessary for the Court to ascertain as to who 2025:KER:71394 RPFC NO. 241 OF 2020 7 was in wrong and the minute details of the matrimonial dispute between the husband and wife need not be gone into. While so, the High Court was not right in going into the intricacies of dispute between the appellant - wife and the respondent and observing that the appellant - wife on her own left the matrimonial house and therefore she was not entitled to maintenance. Such observation by the High Court overlooks the evidence of appellant - wife and the factual findings, as recorded by the Family Court.
8. In Shamima Farooqui v. Shahid Khan [2015 KHC 4261], the Apex Court observed like this:
15. The High Court, without indicating any reason, has reduced the monthly maintenance allowance to Rs.2,000/-. In today's world, it is extremely difficult to conceive that a woman of her status would be in a position to manage within Rs.2,000/-
per month. It can never be forgotten that the inherent and fundamental principle behind S.125 CrPC is for amelioration of the financial state of affairs as well as mental agony and anguish that woman suffers when she is compelled to leave her matrimonial home. The statute commands there has to be some acceptable arrangements so that she can sustain herself. The principle of sustenance gets more heightened when the 2025:KER:71394 RPFC NO. 241 OF 2020 8 children are with her. Be it clarified that sustenance does not mean and can never allow to mean a mere survival. A woman, who is constrained to leave the marital home, should not be allowed to feel that she has fallen from grace and move hither and thither arranging for sustenance. As per law, she is entitled to lead a life in the similar manner as she would have lived in the house of her husband. And that is where the status and strata of the husband comes into play and that is where the legal obligation of the husband becomes a prominent one. As long as the wife is held entitled to grant of maintenance within the parameters of S.125 CrPC, it has to be adequate so that she can live with dignity as she would have lived in her matrimonial home. She cannot be compelled to become a destitute or a beggar. There can be no shadow of doubt that an order under S.125 CrPC can be passed if a person despite having sufficient means neglects or refuses to maintain the wife. Sometimes, a plea is advanced by the husband that he does not have the means to pay, for he does not have a job or his business is not doing well. These are only bald excuses and, in fact, they have no acceptability in law. If the husband is healthy, able bodied and is in a position to support himself, he is under the legal obligation to support his wife, for wife's right to receive maintenance under S.125 CrPC, unless 2025:KER:71394 RPFC NO. 241 OF 2020 9 disqualified, is an absolute right. While determining the quantum of maintenance, this Court in Jabsir Kaur Sehgal v. District Judge Dehradun and Others, 1997 KHC 554 : 1997 (7) SCC 7 : 1997 (2) KLT SN 62 : AIR 1997 SC 3397 :
1997 (5) ALT 25 : 1997 All LJ 2091 has held as follows:
"The Court has to consider the status of the parties, their respective needs, the capacity of the husband to pay having regard to his reasonable expenses for his own maintenance and of those he is obliged under the law and statutory but involuntary payments or deductions. The amount of maintenance fixed for the wife should be such as she can live in reasonable comfort considering her status and the mode of life she was used to when she lived with her husband and also that she does not feel handicapped in the prosecution of her case. At the same time, the amount so fixed cannot be excessive or extortionate."
9. Keeping in mind the above principle of the Apex Court, I am of the considered opinion that there is nothing to interfere with the impugned order.
There is no merit in this revision petition and hence, dismissed.
sd/-
P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN
JV JUDGE