Supreme Court Enhances Child Maintenance to ₹1.5 Lakh, Holds Voluntary Deductions Cannot Reduce Disposable Income

Case Snapshot

Case Name: Harpreet Sawhney v. Puneet Sharma

Citation: 2026 INSC 822

Bench: Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh & Justice Sanjay Karol

Date of Judgment: August 10, 2026

Area of Law: Family Law, Maintenance, Matrimonial Disputes

The Judgment in One Line

Voluntary deductions like Provident Fund and ESPPs cannot be treated as compulsory deductions while computing disposable income for child maintenance; wife's medical expenses justify enhanced interim maintenance.

Why This Judgment Matters

This judgment clarifies the computation of disposable income for maintenance purposes, holding that voluntary deductions—such as Provident Fund contributions and Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs)—cannot be treated as compulsory deductions to reduce monthly income. Since these are savings that accrue to the husband, they must be included in the disposable income available for maintenance. The judgment also recognizes that the wife's aggressive breast cancer diagnosis and medical expenses justify enhanced interim maintenance. The decision ensures that children are entitled to the same facilities enjoyed by their parents and that maintenance reflects the actual financial capacity of the payer.

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