Bare reading of the amendments gives glimpse of what is law, but the interpretation by higher courts settles the law. So, any deep interpretation of amendments is adventurous, but prima-facie opinion can be formed. Before looking into amendments, it is beneficial to re-read Section 25 of the HMA, which talks of permanent alimony.
25. Permanent alimony and maintenance.
(1) Any court exercising jurisdiction under this Act may, at the time of passing any decree or at any time subsequent thereto, on application made to it for the purpose by either the wife or the husband, as the case may be, order that the respondent shall 1[ pay to the applicant for her or his maintenance and support such gross sum or such monthly or periodical sum for a term not exceeding the life of the applicant as, having regard to the respondent' s own income and other property, if any, the income and other property of the applicant, 2[ the conduct of the parties and other circumstances of the case], it may seem to the court to be just, and any such payment may be secured, if necessary, by a charge on the immovable property of the respondent.
(2) If the court is satisfied that there is a change in the circumstances of either party at any time after it has made an order under sub- section (1), it may at the instance of either party, vary, modify or rescind any such order in such manner as the court may deem just.
(3) If the court is satisfied that the party in whose favour an order has been made under this section has re- married or, if such party is the wife, that she has not remained chaste, or, if such party is the husband, that he has had s*xual intercourse with any woman outside wedlock, 2[ it may at the instance of the other party vary, modify or rescind any such order in such manner as the court may deem just]."
Now, in your case, the divorce petition filed by the husband is on the ground of "mental cruelty"-which is very difficult to prove in Indian Courts. So, he will prolong the litigation and once the mandatory "three year period" separation happens as required under new law, he will modify his petition under new amended provision and will seek divorce on the ground of "IRBM". Then, obviouslly the maintenance part that is laid down in the amendment Act will be applicable in your case. If you read Section 25 quoted above, there is also oblique referrence about that while quantifying the permanent alimony to the wife, the court has to take into account of the properties of the petitioner husband. The courts have not strictly taken this language and that is why, the pea-nuts are given to the divorced woman along with the divorce decree in the name of permanent alimony. But, after this amendment, the compensation (read permanent alimony) has been specifically emphasised for granting divorce on IRBM, the courts have to take into account of husband's self acquired and inheritable properties and movable assets while granting permanent alimony.
While seeking the permanent alimony by the divorcee wife in a new amended law, she must take the following precautios:
1. File the complete list of immoval properties of the husband-self acquired, inherited and inheritable, at the final stage of the case. In India, always the registered value of the property is so less comparing to the market value. Hence, after filing the details of the properties obtained through Right to Information Act, the wife has to lead the evidence in respect of market value by bringing two to three property dealers of the area. If the property is in mega cities, the market value is available on web-sites and they can be relied.
2. file the list of movable assets and their present value after depreciating the value.
Finally, it is important to note that in matrimonial disputes, quite often the parents of the husband disown the son. Disowning is a procedure not recognized by the courts. So, this factor will not be taken into consideration while granting maintenance under new amendments. It is also not a new feature not just in India but through out the world, when the squibbles, skirmishes start as a prelude before filing the divorce petition, husbands gift away, sell out the properties, which are in their names. Such transactions of tranfer of property are being taken into consideration in some foreign countries and it is believed that Indian courts also will follow suit, if such trends of foreign courts are brought into the notice of Indian courts.
In your case, if you put up the details of ancestral properties of UP before Jaipur Courts, they have to take into consideration of them either under Section 25 of the Act or in amendment Act.