A businessman, who had just one day of marital bliss, had to cough up `3 lakh in alimony to his wife. He had sought divorce from his wife as her mental illness was not disclosed to him before the wedding took place. The court granted him divorce, but held that he still had to provide maintenance to her.Yashodhara Vittala Shetty approached the High Court against a family court decision directing him to pay alimony. Shetty had a mobile phone shop in Gujarat and married Poornima, from Udupi on November 10, 2013. He claimed that on the day of marriage, he realised that Poornima suffered from a mental disorder. Poornima’s family took her home the same day. Shetty approached the family court in Mangaluru seeking divorce. Poornima was represented at the family court by a guardian. The family court ordered on November 10, 2015 that the marriage was dissolved by granting a decree of nullity form the date of judgement. But Shetty was directed to pay permanent alimony/maintenance of `3 lakh to Poornima.Shetty challenged only the alimony payable and not the grant of divorce before the High Court. He claimed that the family court had failed to appreciate the principles regarding permanent alimony in the proper perspective. He claimed that he was asked to pay a huge amount without considering his income. He alleged that suppressing the mental disorder of Poornima, he was made to marry her.The defence for Poornima was that she was healthy with good mental health. But on the date of marriage, Shetty had informed her that after marriage he was not taking her to Gujarat where he was permanently residing.This resulted in a shock and depression in her which caused her to behave abnormally. The family court had, however, held that fraud was played on Shetty and he was made to marry.The HC held that even when “the wife/husband who had suffered a decree of nullity is also entitled to maintenance/permanent alimony under the provision,” of Section 25 of the Hindu Marriage Act. The law does not “deprive the wife from claiming maintenance even in cases where the marriage is declared a nullity under the Act.”Dismissing Shetty’s appeal, the HC said, “Taking into consideration the factual background of this case wherein the respondent requires medical assistance, food, clothing and shelter for her life vis-à-vis the business of the appellant who is running a mobile shop, permanent alimony or maintenance of `3 lakh awarded by the family court is justifiable.”