Wife pays alimony to jobless husband

Bhubaneswar: In Orissa, a court has asked a woman to pay her husband alimony.

Husband paying alimony to wife is a quite known phenomenon, but can a divorced husband too deserve sustenance from the wife?

34-year-old Jyotsna, a teacher in Bhubaneswar married Suvendu Tripathy four years back. But barely 4 months after the marriage, Jyotsna learnt her in laws had lied about Suvendu?s employment.

Jyotsna alleged that she was tortured for dowry and was asked to leave her husband's house.

Her husband then filed a divorce petition in the Bhubaneswar district court, asking for alimony from her stating that he was unemployed.

Last week in an interim judgement, the Bhubaneswar court ordered Jyotsna to pay her husband 500 rupees per month till the final judgement.

Reacting to the unexpected judgement of the court, Jyotsna Das said, ?I hardly earn anything for my own survival, how can I manage to pay him this amount?"

However, Suvendu has expressed satisfaction over the verdict.

Under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955, it is mentioned that either wife or husband can claim alimony in case of divorce depending upon the earning status.

The state woman commission has taken strong exception to this judgement.

Jyotsna is now planning to approach the High Court.