Social media isn’t proof of financial independence: Court to husband

Bengaluru: A woman’s presence on professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn and social media sites such as Facebook cannot establish that she is financially independent, a Bengaluru sessions court has observed while granting her monthly maintenance of Rs 20,000.

Judge Mohan Prabhu made the observation while disposing of appeals filed by an estranged husband and wife against a magistrate court’s maintenance order.

The husband had opposed his wife’s demand for maintenance, claiming that she was educated and capable of earning. His lawyer submitted photographs and screenshots of her LinkedIn and Facebook profiles to support the contention that she was employed.

Rejecting the argument, the sessions court said the husband had not produced sufficient evidence to establish the woman’s actual income. A social media profile or an assumption that she was employed could not prove that she had adequate financial resources to maintain herself and their child.

The judge emphasised that possessing an engineering degree did not automatically make a woman financially independent or disentitle her from receiving maintenance. The additional responsibility of caring for a child could also limit her ability to take up employment and earn an adequate income.

The court noted that the woman had returned to India from the United States with her son in November 2017 and had been residing with her parents. The husband had not provided maintenance to either of them after their return.

It further observed that depriving a woman of the financial resources required for her livelihood could amount to economic abuse. The husband was directed to pay Rs 20,000 per month to his wife and was restrained from subjecting her to abuse through direct or indirect communication, including verbal, written, electronic and telephone modes.

How the dispute began

The couple married in Bengaluru in 2014 before relocating to the United States, where the husband worked as an engineer. They have a son. Their relationship subsequently deteriorated, following which the woman returned to India with the child.

She approached the magistrate court under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, alleging physical, mental and financial harassment.

In April 2025, the magistrate ordered the husband to pay Rs 15,000 every month towards the child’s maintenance, Rs 1.6 lakh annually for educational expenses and Rs 8 lakh as compensation to the wife. However, it rejected her separate maintenance claim based on her educational qualifications and potential employment opportunities.

Both parties challenged the decision before the sessions court, resulting in the latest order.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.