The Development of Maintenance of Hindu Married Women: Legal and Religious Perspective

The concept of maintenance for Hindu married women has undergone a significant evolution, shaped by both religious injunctions and legal codification. Traditionally, Hindu law, as interpreted from Dharmashastra texts, emphasized the husband’s duty to provide sustenance to his wife, irrespective of her conduct or economic condition, though with certain restrictions rooted in patriarchal norms. Over time, colonial codification and judicial interpretation redefined these principles, balancing religious doctrines with emerging notions of justice and equality. Post-independence reforms, particularly the codified provisions undertheIndia’s Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956, expanded the scope of a wife’s right to maintenance, while in Bangladesh, reliance on uncodified Hindu personal law has created complexities in ensuring uniform protection. This article explores the historical development of maintenance from ancient Hindu religious texts to modern statutory frameworks, examining how courts have reconciled traditional norms with constitutional ideals of gender justice. It highlights comparative perspectives between India and Bangladesh, identifies persisting challenges such as the lack of codification in Bangladesh, and underscores the need for harmonizing religious traditions with contemporary legal standards to safeguard the socio-economic rights of Hindu married women.

Law

1. Agarwala, R.K., Hindu Law (Codified and Un Codified), (Central Law Agency, Allahabad, 21st Edition, 2006). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Aggarwal, Nomita, Women and Law in India, (New Century Publications, Delhi, 1st Edition, 2002). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Agnes, Flavia, Law and Gender Inequality: The Politics of Women’s Rights in India, (Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 1999). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Ahmad, Aquil, Mohammedan Law, (Central Law Agency, Allahabad, 21st Edition, 2004). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Ahuja, Ram, Indian Social System, (Rawat Publications, Jaipur, 1993). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Aiyer, V.R. Krishna, On the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, (Eastern Book Company, Lucknow, 1987). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Ajijola, Alhaji A.D, Introduction to Islamic Law, (Adam Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi, 2007). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Baillie, Neil B.E., Digest of Moohummudan Law, Vols. I & II, (Smith Elder & Co., London, 1875). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Bhattacharjee, A.M., Hindu Law and the Constitution, (Eastern Law House, Calcutta, 1st Edition, 1985). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Blackstone, William. Commentaries on the Laws of England. Vol. 1. St. Paul: West Publishing Company, 1897. [B–2] [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Bromley, P.M., Family Law, (Butters worth& Co. (Publishers) Limited, London, 1976). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Buhler, George, The Laws of Manu: Sacred Books of East, (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1886). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Burn, the Ecclesiastical Law, Volume II, (S. Sweet Publications, London, 1842). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Chawla, Monica, Gender Justice: Women and Law in India, (Deep & Deep Publications Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi, 2006). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Cretney, S.M., Principles of Family Law, (Sweet & Maxwell, London, 3rd Edition, 1979). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Dahl, Tove Stang, Women’s Law an Introduction to the Feminist Jurisprudence, (Norwegian University Press, Oxford, 1987). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Derrett, John Duncun Martin, A Critique of Modern Hindu Law, (N.M. Tripathi Private Limited, Bombay 1970). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Diwan, Paras &Diwan, Peeyushi, Indian Personal Laws, (Wadhwa and Company, 1st Edition, 1993). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Diwan, Paras &Diwan, Peeyushi, Muslim Modern Law in India, (Allahabad Law Agency, Faridabad, 9th Edition, 2008). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Diwan, Paras &Diwan, Piyushi, Family Law, (Allahabad Law Agency, Allahabad, 2nd Edition, 1994). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Diwan, Paras &Diwan, Piyushi, Modern Hindu Law, (Allahabad Law Agency, Faridabad, 21st Edition, 2012). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Diwan, Paras, Women and Legal Protection, (Deep & Deep Publication, New Delhi, 2004). B - 3 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Haskafi, Muhammad Ala-ud-din, Durr-Ul-Mukhtur, (KitabBhawan, New Delhi,1992). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Fyzee, Outlines of Mohammedan Law, (Oxford University Press, Delhi, 4th Edition, 1974). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Ganguly, Criminal Court Practice & Procedure, (Eastern Law House, Delhi/ Kolkata, 10th Edition, 2008). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Ghosh, S.K., Indian Women through the Ages, (Ashish Publishing House, New Delhi, 1st Edition, 1989). Halsbury, Laws of England, Vol. 13, (Lexis Nexis Butters worth, New Delhi, 4th Edition, 1994). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Hamilton, The Hedaya or Guide, (Premier Book House, Lahore, 2nd Edition, 1957). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Iyer, V.R. Krishna, the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, (Eastern Book Company, Lucknow, 1987). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Jeyaseelan, Thomas B., Women Rights and Law, (Indian Social Institute, Delhi. 2002). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Kader, S.A., Muslim Law of Marriage and Succession in India, (Eastern Law House, Kolkata, 1998). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Kelkar, R.V., Criminal Procedure, (Eastern Book Company, Lucknow, 5th Edition, 2008). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Kidwai, Shaikh M.H., Woman, (Light & Life Publishers, New Delhi, 1978). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Kumar, Virendra, Alimony and Maintenance (In the Light of the Changing Concept of Marriage and Divorce), B - 4 (Publication Bureau, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 1st Edition, 1978). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Lal, Batuk, The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, (Central Law Agency, Allahabad, 2nd Edition, 2010). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Lal, Ratan & Lal, Dheeraj, The Code of Criminal Procedure, (Wadhwa& Company, Nagpur, 20th Edition, 2011). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Mahmood, Tahir, The Muslim Law in India, (Law Book Company, Allahabad, 1980). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. Malik, Shailendra, The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, (Allahabad Law Agency, Faridabad, 18th Edition, 2011). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. Mallick, M.R., Maintenance Law & Practice, (Eastern Law House, Kolkata, 2012). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

39. Mayne, Hindu Law and Usages, (Bharat Law House, New Delhi, 16th Edition, 2010). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

40. Mishra, S., Women’s Health and Social Issues, (Arise Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi, 1st Edition, 2011). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Conflict of Law in the Safeguarding of Malaysian Intangible Cultural Heritage: A Way Forward
• Alternative Dispute Resolution in India: A Brief Overview Justice Delayed is Justice Denied. - William E. Gladstone
• The Role of Museums in Safeguarding Cultural Heritage Rights: Balancing Access and Repatriation
• An Evaluation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights' Significance and Application in Nigeria
• The Role of International Law in Shaping National Immigration Policies.