Under Section 125 CrPC (now Section 144 BNSS), an order for maintenance can be made against a person of sufficient means who neglects or refuses to maintain
AHis wife (regardless of religion), his legitimate or illegitimate minor child, an adult child who is unable to maintain itself due to physical or mental abnormality, and his father or mother unable to maintain themselves
BOnly his Hindu wife
COnly his minor sons
DOnly his parents
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. His wife (regardless of religion), his legitimate or illegitimate minor child, an adult child who is unable to maintain itself due to physical or mental abnormality, and his father or mother unable to maintain themselves
Section 125 is a secular, summary maintenance provision. The duty arises regardless of religion. Shah Bano (1985) and Danial Latifi (2001) applied it to Muslim divorced wives; recent Supreme Court rulings continue to affirm its breadth.
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