Calcutta HC Orders ₹4 Lakh Monthly Interim Maintenance to Shami’s Wife and Daughter

The Calcutta High Court has directed Indian cricketer Mohammad Shami to pay ₹4 lakh per month as interim maintenance to his estranged wife Hasin Jahan and their minor daughter, pending final adjudication of proceedings under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.

Justice Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee passed the order on July 1, observing that a total sum of ₹1.5 lakh to the wife and ₹2.5 lakh to the daughter would be “just, fair and reasonable” at this stage.

The order came in an appeal filed by Jahan against a 2023 lower court decision that had granted her ₹50,000 per month and ₹80,000 for the child.

Challenging the inadequacy of the amount in light of Shami’s substantial income and lifestyle, Jahan argued that she was forced to give up her professional career following her marriage in 2014, had no independent income, and was struggling to cover even basic educational expenses for their daughter.

The High Court found merit in these submissions, noting that “merely because the wife has some source of income does not disentitle her from maintenance, especially when it is not sufficient to maintain the same standard of living.”

The court also noted that the child was entitled to a lifestyle proportionate to that of the father and clarified that Shami would remain free to voluntarily contribute toward additional educational or medical needs over and above the fixed amount.

The High Court has directed the trial court to conclude the main application for maintenance within six months. Meanwhile, the ₹4 lakh monthly maintenance is to be paid from the date of the appeal and will be subject to adjustment based on the final outcome.