EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF MAINTENANCE LAWS: JUDICIAL DECISIONS ON LIVE-IN RELATIONSHIPS AND UNMARRIED WOMEN

uring the past few years Indian judicial systems have expanded their interpretation of maintenance laws to give financial support in ways that reach beyond typical marital relationships. Legislative interpretations about married women rights faced changes when courts started recognizing the economic needs of both cohabiting partners and unmarried women. The research investigates current juridical advancements into maintenance laws together with the legislative gaps and recommends legislative improvements. Analysis of landmark cases and insights from British and American and Canadian jurisdictions demonstrate that establishing a rights-based approach must place economic dependence before marital status classification. The paper recommends passing laws that modify Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) along with relevant changes to the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA) to maintain financial support for all dependent women as a way to address gender inequalities in maintenance systems.