> **Family Background Before 2012**: No details are publicly available on why the mother & children approached the court initially; reports begin with the first maintenance petition in 2012.

This is an interesting case in which the father became the subject of a long running maintenance dispute involving his wife & two children. In 2012 the mother, daughter & son filed a petition seeking financial support, citing concerns that the children’s education could be disrupted due to insufficient funds. Over the years, multiple courts increased the maintenance amounts, culminating in a 2025 High Court verdict that clarified the father’s legal obligations under Section 125 CrPC and Hindu law, distinguishing between statutory entitlement for minor children & moral duty toward adult children pursuing higher education.

**Timeline of Maintenance Case (2012–2025)**

**2012 – Initial Petition:**

* Mother, son, and daughter filed a petition against the father for **financial support**.
* **Reason:** Children’s education at risk due to financial constraints; father not providing adequate support.
* **Judicial Magistrate First Class** awarded **Rs 2,000 per month** to each (mother, son, daughter).

**2015 - First Revision:**

* Revision petition filed for higher maintenance.
* **Additional Sessions Judge-II** increased maintenance to **Rs 3,000 per month**.

**2017 - Lok Adalat Enhancement:**

* Maintenance enhanced to **Rs 4,000 per month**.

**2018 - Petition under Section 127 CrPC (Enhancement):**

* Mother and children requested further increase.
* **Family Court Decision:**

  * Mother: increased to **Rs 8,000 per month**.
  * Son and daughter: **denied**, citing age of majority.
* **Key point:** At application time (July 2, 2018)

  * Daughter > adult (born Aug 1, 1998, already 19/20) > not entitled under Section 125 CrPC.
  * Son > minor (born Mar 17, 2002, age 16) → eligible for maintenance until 18.

**2025 - Himachal Pradesh High Court Verdict (Sept 12, 2025):**

* **Daughter:** Not legally entitled under CrPC, but father’s **moral obligation** noted.
* **Son:** Entitled to **enhanced maintenance Rs 8,000/month from July 2, 2018 to March 17, 2020** (until he turned 18).
* **Mother:** Enhancement of Rs 8,000/month upheld.
* **Court also ruled:** Any payments made voluntarily by father beyond legal requirement **cannot be reclaimed**.

**Current Status (as of 2025 verdict):**

* Both children are now adults:

  * Daughter, born 1998: 27 years old.
  * Son, born 2002: 23 years old.
* Legal maintenance obligations under CrPC ended at 18, but **father’s moral duty** recognized.

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[**The Economic Times**](https://m.economictimes.com/wealth/legal/will/adult-son-daughter-take-father-to-court-seeking-financial-support-for-education-win-case-under-hindu-law/articleshow/124493135.cms)

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> **What do you think**: was it fair for the children and mother to sue the father for educational support? Should parents be legally bound to fund higher education even after children reach adulthood?

Adult son, daughter take father to court seeking financial support for education; win case under Hindu law