Court Upholds Widow's Rights: Maintenance After Husband's Death

The Allahabad High Court ruled that a widowed daughter-in-law can claim maintenance from her father-in-law if unable to support herself. This decision underscores that even after a husband's demise, the duty to maintain a widow may involve her late husband's family, according to Hindu law provisions.

The Allahabad High Court has affirmed that a widow is entitled to maintenance from her father-in-law following her husband's death. In a ruling by Justices Arindam Sinha and Satya Veer Singh, the court highlighted the husband's obligation to support his wife, extending even posthumously.

The decision arises from cases where spouses have separated, and the wife seeks maintenance under criminal law or Hindu maintenance provisions. The court reiterated that a widow may claim sustenance from her father-in-law, provided she cannot support herself through her means or through her late husband's estate.

The judgment aligns with the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, which permits a widow to seek maintenance from her father-in-law's estate, barring remarriage or lack of sufficient estate means. This ruling underscores the court's commitment to maintaining the widow's rights under familial provisions.

(With inputs from agencies.)