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Supreme Court raises maintenance in a matrimonial dispute, holding provident fund and stock-plan deductions are not mandatory deductions fro
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Date of judgment
- 10 August 2026
- Case
- 2026 INSC 822
- Parties
- HARPREET SAWHNEY Vs PUNEET SHARMA
- Bench
- SANJAY KAROL, N KOTISWAR SINGH
- Outcome
- Disposed off
Summary
In a matrimonial dispute, a mother challenged the maintenance fixed by the Delhi High Court for herself and two children, arguing that the father's income had been reduced by deductions that were really voluntary. The Supreme Court agreed that provident fund and employee stock plan contributions are not compulsory deductions in the way income tax and professional tax are, and increased the maintenance.
What the court held
The Court enhanced the maintenance payable for the two children to a total of Rs 1,50,000 a month (Rs 75,000 per child) with effect from 1 January 2025, and raised the maintenance for the mother to Rs 30,000 a month, taking into account her medical expenses. The father must comply within three months, and the mother remains free to seek a further increase if circumstances change. The appeals were disposed of accordingly.
Key issues
- Should provident fund and employee stock plan contributions be deducted from income when fixing maintenance?
- Is the maintenance fixed by the High Court adequate?
Provisions referred to
- Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
Read the full judgment (PDF) ↗
Official source: Supreme Court of India. The PDF above is a copy from an open dataset of the court's public records.
This summary is prepared for general assistance only. It may contain errors and is not legal advice — rely on the full judgment.