Professionally qualified wives can't automatically be denied maintenance: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that professionally qualified wives who are capable of earning cannot claim maintenance from their husbands under Section 125 of the CrPC. The court emphasized that maintenance is intended to support those who are genuinely in need and not to create dependency. The judgment was delivered in a case where the wife, holding a professional degree, sought maintenance despite being capable of earning an income. The court’s decision underscores the importance of self-sufficiency and the need to balance financial support with encouraging individuals to utilize their earning potential.