Refused to Support Wife, SC Orders Salary Deduction

The Supreme Court has directed a man’s employer to deduct Rs 25,000 from his salary and transfer the same through RTGS to his estranged wife’s account towards maintenance of the woman and their minor daughter. 

In a rare order, the apex court issued the directions after the man refused to pay money towards maintenance voluntarily. On December 16, 2025, the court had directed the husband to deposit Rs 25,000 towards the travelling expenses of his wife and four-year-old daughter for mediation proceedings.

A bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan issued the order while hearing a transfer petition filed by Dimpal against her husband, Nishant Pravinbhai Soni. The suit was pending before a family court in Gujarat and Dimpal sought transfer of the case to the apex court.

The court noted that Nishant had neither transferred money for maintenance nor had any contact with the minor child for the last four years after separating from his wife in 2022.

In an affidavit. Nishant expressed his inability to pay towards the maintenance stating that he draws a salary of Rs 50,000 per month and is by burdened by loan repayments. Then the top court asked if he would deposit Rs 2.5 lakh, including Rs 1.38 lakh towards arrears of interim maintenance, he did not agree.

Stating that it was more concerned over the welfare of the minor daughter, Avira, the court directed the employer, Rishad Shipping and Clearing Agency Pvt. Ltd., to transfer the deducted amount to the petitioner’s wife. 

The court also remarked that the woman’s father had passed away and she is raising the daughter alone.