Family and Marriage Law

A Hindu wife shall be entitled to be maintained after the death of her husband by her father-in-law under Section 19 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act and such obligation of father-in-law shall cease on the remarriage of the daughter-in-law.

Section 25 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act clearly provides that the amount of maintenance fixed may be altered subsequently if there is a material change in the circumstances justifying such alteration.

While granting alimony, a court has to consider that the amount of alimony shall not exceed one-fifth of the husband’s net average income for the last three years.

The obligation of parents to maintain their unmarried daughter extends in so far as the unmarried daughter is unable to maintain herself out of her own earning or other property. This provision is given under Section 20 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act.

Section 19 falls under the part of jurisdiction and procedure for the petitions under the Hindu Marriage Act. Section 19 deals with a court to which petition shall be presented.

A divorced wife can claim a divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act as stated above. Under the CrPC, a wife can claim maintenance under Section 125. In this section, the definition of wife includes a woman who has been divorced by or has obtained a divorce from her husband and has not remarried.

Prohibited degrees (close blood relationships barred under marriage laws) and sapinda relationship (descendants up to specified generations under Hindu Marriage Act, Section 3(f)) are distinct concepts that can overlap. A relationship might fall within both prohibited degrees AND sapinda limits. They are not mutually exclusive or dependent but may overlap in certain cases.

Under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, the nine grounds for divorce are: adultery, cruelty, desertion, conversion, unsound mind, leprosy, venereal disease, renunciation, and presumption of death. 'Incompatible Temperamental Adjustment' is not a statutory ground for divorce, though it may be relevant in judicial separation or mutual consent proceedings.

Hiba is an unconditional gift under Islamic law. When a husband gives property to his wife in lieu of or as a substitute for her dower (mahr), it's a simple Hiba - a voluntary gift without consideration. Hiba-hil-iwaz involves exchange of gifts, and Hiba-ba-shartul-iwaz involves a gift with a condition that something be given in return, which don't apply here.

Nikah is the permanent and regular form of marriage in Islamic law, intended to be lifelong. Muta (pleasure marriage) is a temporary, contractual form of marriage for a fixed period, which is recognized only in Ithna Ashari (Shia) school and is uncommon in India. The assertion correctly states that Nikah is regular/permanent. The reason correctly states that Muta is contractual and uncommon in India. Option A correctly identifies that both A and R are correct. The question tests knowledge of Muslim personal law marriage forms.

Under Section 16 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, children born out of void or voidable marriages are deemed legitimate. This provision ensures that children do not suffer for the marital status of their parents. Such children have all the rights and legitimate status as children born from valid marriages, including inheritance rights. This protective principle prioritizes child welfare over technical marital defects.

In Mohd. Yunus Vs. Malooki, the High Court held that the presence of a Qazi (Islamic religious officiant) is not essential for the validity of a Muslim marriage ceremony. Under Muslim personal law, marriage is essentially a contract between parties, and the key requirements are offer and acceptance (ijab and qabul) in the presence of witnesses. While traditionally a Qazi solemnized marriages, his absence does not invalidate the marriage if the essential contractual elements are present.

Under the Hindu Succession Act 1956, coparcenary property devolves by succession (not survivorship) upon the death of a coparcener. The 1956 Act abolished the traditional Mitakshara survivorship rule for most cases. Coparcenary property can be partitioned, so options C and D are incorrect.

Section 493 IPC punishes cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage. This offense protects both men and women from fraud. The punishment is imprisonment up to ten years and is also liable for fine. The key element is deceit about marriage status.

Under Section 13(1)(i-a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, a single act of adultery after marriage is sufficient ground for both judicial separation and divorce. Judicial separation can be sought on grounds of adultery without requiring cohabitation for one year after the decree. For divorce, the same single act of adultery qualifies as a ground under Section 13(1)(i-a). The law recognizes adultery as a matrimonial offense grave enough to warrant either remedy.