India, Jan. 1 -- A man cannot be exempted from financially supporting his child simply because his wife has the potential to provide for the child, the Delhi high court ruled in a recent judgment. Upholding a city court's order, the high court directed the father to pay maintenance to his son until he graduates or begins earning, asserting that maintenance ensures a dignified existence, not mere survival.

"The duty of the husband to provide for his child persists regardless of any purported grievances. It is trite that mere potential of the wife to provide for the child, is not sufficient to exempt the petitioner/husband, who is an able-bodied man, from financially supporting his child," a bench of justice Amit Mahajan stated in the Dece...