'Muslim women entitled to maintenance from spouses'

SC says religion neutral’ provision is applicable to all married women

- 

In a landmark judgement with far-reaching implications, the Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that Muslim women can seek maintenance from their husbands under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The court affirmed that this “religion-neutral” provision is applicable to all married women, regardless of their religion.

A bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih delivered a separate but concurring verdict stating: “Section 125 of the CrPC applies to all married women, including Muslim married women. It also applies to all non-Muslim divorced women.”