{"id":1187,"date":"2026-10-17T19:57:02","date_gmt":"2026-10-17T14:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advmriduljindal.com\/blog\/?p=1187"},"modified":"2026-10-17T19:58:03","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T14:28:03","slug":"permanent-alimony-factors-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advmriduljindal.com\/blog\/permanent-alimony-factors-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Permanent Alimony in India: How Courts Decide the Amount"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group tldr-box has-background\" style=\"border-left-color:#b8860b;border-left-width:4px;background-color:#fdf8ec;padding-top:16px;padding-right:20px;padding-bottom:16px;padding-left:20px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Quick answer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Permanent alimony is granted at or after the divorce decree under <strong>Section 25 of the Hindu Marriage Act<\/strong> (Section 37 of the Special Marriage Act). Either spouse can claim it.<\/li>\n\n<li>In <strong>Parvin Kumar Jain v. Anju Jain (10 December 2024)<\/strong>, the Supreme Court listed eight factors, including both parties&#8217; status and income, the wife&#8217;s needs and standard of living, career sacrifices and the husband&#8217;s liabilities.<\/li>\n\n<li>There is no fixed formula. The aim is a decent standard of living for the claimant, without penalising the paying spouse.<\/li>\n\n<li>Alimony can be monthly or a one-time lump sum. Lump-sum settlements are common in mutual consent divorces.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alimony is often the most contested issue in a divorce. Courts in Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad now follow a fairly structured approach based on Supreme Court guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the difference between maintenance and alimony?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Interim maintenance and litigation expenses<\/strong> during the case: Section 24 HMA, and also Section 144 BNSS and the DV Act. Read about <a href=\"https:\/\/advmriduljindal.com\/blog\/maintenance-wife-children-section-144-bnss\/\">maintenance under Section 144 BNSS<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n<li><strong>Permanent alimony<\/strong>: Section 25 HMA, awarded when the divorce (or other matrimonial) decree is passed, as a lump sum or periodic payment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What factors do courts consider?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <strong>Parvin Kumar Jain v. Anju Jain<\/strong>, the Supreme Court listed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The social and financial status of the parties<\/li>\n\n<li>The reasonable needs of the wife and dependent children<\/li>\n\n<li>The parties&#8217; qualifications and employment<\/li>\n\n<li>The applicant&#8217;s independent income or assets<\/li>\n\n<li>The standard of living in the matrimonial home<\/li>\n\n<li>Career sacrifices made for the family<\/li>\n\n<li>Reasonable litigation costs for a non-working wife<\/li>\n\n<li>The husband&#8217;s financial capacity, income, maintenance obligations and liabilities<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Court said these are guidelines, not a rigid formula. In <strong>Kiran Jyot Maini v. Anish Pramod Patel (2024)<\/strong>, the Court similarly stressed the parties&#8217; status, the length of the marriage and the claimant&#8217;s ability to maintain herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How are income and assets proved?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both parties must file an <strong>Affidavit of Disclosure of Assets and Liabilities<\/strong> as required by <strong>Rajnesh v. Neha, (2021) 2 SCC 324<\/strong>. Courts compare these affidavits with tax returns, salary slips, bank statements and property records. Hiding income can lead to adverse inferences and perjury proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lump sum or monthly payments?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A lump sum gives a clean break and avoids future enforcement problems, so it is usually preferred in settlements. Monthly alimony suits cases where the paying spouse has a steady salary but no large savings. Courts can also order transfer of property or secure payments by a charge on property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can a husband claim alimony?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Section 25 is gender-neutral. A husband who cannot maintain himself, for example due to illness or disability, can claim alimony from an earning wife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can alimony be changed later?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Under Section 25(2), the court can vary or cancel the order if circumstances change. Under Section 25(3), it can rescind the order if the receiving spouse remarries or, in the statute&#8217;s words, has not remained chaste (for a wife) or has had sexual intercourse outside marriage (for a husband). A lump sum already paid under a settlement is usually final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is alimony decided in a mutual consent divorce?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. The parties agree the amount in their settlement and the Family Court records it. Read about <a href=\"https:\/\/advmriduljindal.com\/blog\/mutual-consent-divorce-process-6-month-waiver\/\">mutual consent divorce<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/advmriduljindal.com\/blog\/contested-divorce-grounds-hindu-marriage-act\/\">grounds for contested divorce<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Need help?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speak to our <a href=\"https:\/\/advmriduljindal.com\/divorce-lawyer-noida.php\">divorce lawyer in Noida<\/a>, see our <a href=\"https:\/\/advmriduljindal.com\/family.php\">family law practice<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/advmriduljindal.com\/contact.php\">contact us<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is there a fixed percentage of salary for alimony?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. There is no fixed percentage. Courts apply the Supreme Court&#8217;s factors to the facts, though interim maintenance often ends up around a quarter of the payer&#8217;s net income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can a working wife get permanent alimony?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, if her income does not let her maintain the standard of living she had during the marriage. Her income is one factor among many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does alimony stop if the wife remarries?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The court can rescind a periodic alimony order if the receiving spouse remarries. A lump sum already paid under a settlement is usually final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can alimony be paid in instalments?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Courts and settlements often allow a lump sum to be paid in instalments, usually tied to the stages of a mutual consent divorce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 \u2014 Sections 24 and 25<\/li>\n\n<li>Special Marriage Act, 1954 \u2014 Section 37<\/li>\n\n<li>Parvin Kumar Jain v. Anju Jain, 2024 LiveLaw (SC) 969 (10 December 2024)<\/li>\n\n<li>Kiran Jyot Maini v. Anish Pramod Patel, 2024 INSC 530<\/li>\n\n<li>Rajnesh v. Neha, (2021) 2 SCC 324<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This article is general legal information, not legal advice for your specific case. Law and procedure change; please consult an advocate before acting.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Is there a fixed percentage of salary for alimony?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"No. There is no fixed percentage. Courts apply the Supreme Court's factors to the facts, though interim maintenance often ends up around a quarter of the payer's net income.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Can a working wife get permanent alimony?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Yes, if her income does not let her maintain the standard of living she had during the marriage. 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