The Madras High Court rejected a request opposing the State Information Commission’s (SIC) directive to provide the husband’s work details to his wife. The wife, seeking financial support, requires information about her husband’s salary to make a fair claim. The Court supported the Commission’s decision, emphasising that the wife has the right to be aware of her husband’s earnings.
A man and his wife are going through a divorce, and the wife has requested information about her husband’s salary because she needs it to determine the amount of maintenance (financial support) she should receive. She asked for this information through the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The husband objected to sharing this information, but the SIC ordered his employer to provide it. The husband then filed a petition challenging this decision in the Madras High Court.
Justice G R Swaminathan said that the SIC made the right decision. In a divorce case, the wife is not considered a third party; she has the right to obtain certain basic details regarding her husband’s salary.
The amount of financial support the wife should receive depends on the husband’s income. Therefore, the judge upheld the SIC’s decision and rejected the husband’s petition.
