Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956
23. Amount of maintenance
(1) It shall be in the discretion of the court to determine
whether any, and if so what, maintenance shall be awarded under the provisions
of this Act, and in doing so the court shall have due regard to the
considerations set out in sub-section (2), or sub-section (3), as the case may
be, so far as they are applicable.
(2) In determining the amount of maintenance, if any, to be
awarded to a wife, children or aged or infirm parents under this Act, regard
shall be had to-
(a) the position and status of the parties;
(b) the reasonable wants of the claimant;
(c) if the claimant is living separately, whether
the claimant is justified in doing so;
(d) the value of the claimant's property and
any income derived from such property, or from the claimant's own earnings or
from any other source;
(e) the number of persons entitled to
maintenance under this Act.
(3) In determining the amount of maintenance, if any, to be
awarded to a dependant under this Act, regard shall be had to-
(a) the net value of the estate of the
deceased after providing for the payment of his debts;
(b) the provision, if any, made under a will
of the deceased in respect of the dependant;
(c) the degree of relationship between the
two;
(d) the reasonable wants of the dependant;
(e) the past relations between the dependant
and the deceased;
(f) the value of the property of the dependant
and any income derived from such property; or from his or her earnings or from
any other source;
(g) the number of dependants entitled to
maintenance under this Act.