PUNE: In a landmark legal development concerning live-in relationships and associated maintenance rights, the Allahabad High Court has delivered a crucial verdict clarifying that verbal claims alone are insufficient for claiming financial support. The court ruled that individuals seeking maintenance under Section 125 of the CrPC must present concrete and substantial evidence of either a valid marriage or a genuine, provable live-in relationship.
The case arose from a petition filed by Manju Sonkar from Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh, who challenged a lower family court’s order. The petitioner claimed that a man had concealed his prior marriage and maintained a relationship with her under false pretenses, prompting her to demand maintenance for herself and her minor child. However, during the proceedings, the respondent completely denied both the marriage and any live-in association. Furthermore, the woman failed to produce verifiable, solid documentation or evidence before the court to substantiate the existence of the relationship.
Upon reviewing the matter, the bench presided by Justice Laxmikant Shukla emphasized that the absence of tangible proof disables a claimant from invoking maintenance rights under Section 125 of the CrPC. Consequently, the High Court upheld the dismissal of the woman’s personal maintenance claim, reinforcing the legal principle that vague allegations or oral assertions cannot substitute for verifiable proof in matrimonial and maintenance disputes.
At the same time, the High Court adopted a balanced and protective approach regarding the welfare of the child. While rejecting the mother’s plea for individual sustenance, the court firmly preserved the monthly maintenance awarded to the minor child born from the union. Legal experts in Pune and across judicial circles have noted that this ruling serves as a vital reminder to litigants regarding the strict evidentiary standards required when claiming legal remedies outside traditional formal marriages. The judgment underscores that while courts recognize modern relationship frameworks, statutory protections and financial reliefs strictly necessitate demonstrable, objective proof rather than mere conjecture.
