NEW DELHI: Denying interim maintenance to a woman seeking monetary assistance from her estranged husband, a trial court said that in today's scenario women are expected to contribute economically to the household and not sit idle.

While rejecting the woman's plea, the court noted that by her own admission, she has done a beautician's course which means she has the skills and qualification to earn but chose not to work.

"The complainant has admitted to doing the course of a beautician. However, she has not furnished any explanation as to why she is sitting idle. In today's scenario, even women are expected to contribute economically in running the house. Admittedly, the complainant is having such professional skill and qualification that she may not find any difficulty in finding a suitable job. The court is of the view that the present case is the fit case where interim monetary relief should not be granted in favour of the complainant..." said metropolitan magistrate Mona Tardi Kerketta.

In her plea, the woman had contended that she was a housewife and was dependent on her parents for her livelihood. Therefore, her husband be directed to provide her a monthly maintenance, she had said. She had also claimed her husband earned Rs 60,000 per month.

The man, however, denied the contentions and claimed that he was unemployed and his wife did not require maintenance as she was a trained beautician and was working in a parlour and earned Rs 15,000 per month.

The court rejected the woman's application and said the couple had not filed any document to prove each other's income.

