Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956
Sections 3(b) & 20—Grant of maintenance and marriage expenses to daughter—Appeal—Section 20 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act casts a statutory obligation on a Hindu to maintain his daughter who is unmarried and unable to maintain herself out of her own earnings or other property—Though the respondent-plaintiff is a major, aged about 25 years, but by virtue of Section 3(b)(ii) read with Sec. 20(3) of the 1956 Act, she, being an unmarried daughter, is clearly entitled for maintenance from her father appellant-defendant till she is married, as well as marriage expenses, which is her statutory right—Father cannot deny to pay the marriage expenses on any ground whatsoever when he is getting a reasonably well salary by working as a Government Teacher—Family Court is absolutely justified in granting the application filed by the respondent-plaintiff and granting monthly maintenance and marriage expenses—Appeal dismissed.
[Paras 13 to 15]