‘If you’re educated, don’t beg’: SC rejects wife’s Rs 12-cr alimony, BMW demand in divorce case

The divorce will formally take effect once the flat is transferred and outstanding dues are paid, with a deadline of August 30.

The Supreme Court, on Monday, brought to a close an eight-year-long matrimonial dispute by dissolving the marriage of a couple and awarding the estranged wife a flat in Mumbai as a full and final settlement.

In a notable judgment, the top court turned down her fresh demands for Rs 12 crore, a BMW car, and other financial compensation, calling them excessive and unjustified.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai, and Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria invoked its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to grant the divorce, ruling that the marriage had irretrievably broken down.

Prior to this, in 2022, the woman had signed a mutual settlement agreement, accepting a flat in Mumbai's Kalpataru Habitat, with two parking spots, as a full and final settlement.

The apex court noted that no claim for permanent alimony was made at the time, and said her recent Rs 12 crore demand had no legal basis.

“The respondent had no such claim when entering into a settlement,” the bench noted. Allegations of coercion or fraud in signing the agreement were dismissed for lack of evidence, as per a report by the Bar and Bench.

The case had made headlines after the woman, despite being highly educated with a career in IT, demanded hefty alimony following an 18-month marriage.

During a July hearing, CJI Gavai had sharply rebuked her demand, stating: “You are so educated. You should earn for yourself and shouldn’t ask for it.”

CJI had further questioned: “Your marriage lasted only 18 months, and now you want a BMW too? One crore every month?”

The Court highlighted her qualifications as a graduate engineer with a postgraduate degree in management and professional experience. It noted that she was capable of sustaining herself.

The top court also considered the husband’s financial decline. Once earning over Rs 2.5 crore per year with Citibank, he is now reportedly unemployed with annual earnings under Rs 18 lakh.

Furthermore, the bench refused to consider his LinkedIn profile as reliable proof of continued employment.

“We find absolutely no reason to disbelieve the appellant’s contention that he is no more in employment with Citi Bank,” the bench observed.

In addition, the Court recorded the husband's agreement to clear Rs 25.9 lakh in maintenance dues to the housing society of the Mumbai flat, ensuring the wife would not face eviction.

The Court agreed that the initial settlement was adequate and balanced. “The terms of the settlement do justice to the estranged wife and do not unduly burden the husband,” the bench held.

The Court also quashed ongoing criminal proceedings filed by the wife under Sections 498A and 406 of the IPC. Both parties were restrained from initiating further litigation against each other relating to the marriage.

CJI Gavai offered a firm remark: “If you are educated, you should not beg for yourself. You should earn and eat for yourself.”

The Court had earlier offered the woman a choice between Rs 4 crore or a burden-free Mumbai apartment, at the same time encouraging her to seek employment in tech hubs like Pune, Hyderabad, or Bengaluru.

The husband had approached the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court’s refusal to enforce the 2022 settlement. He had argued that the wife had voluntarily signed it and then reneged later, demanding a more lucrative deal.

The apex court sided with the husband, calling the wife’s attempt to withdraw consent for mutual divorce and continue legal proceedings an abuse of process.

The divorce will formally take effect once the flat is transferred and outstanding dues are paid, with a deadline of August 30.