Dear Rajaramana RV:
There are two types of maintenance,
1 Interim, until case is running.
2. Permanent u/s 125 crpc.
First one you have to give. Such will be ordered shortly, in the initial stages of the trial.
If your wife is working you should make known to court that she is working or was working, give her old salary slips, give her employer address [summon the employer], give her bank account number. More over, in your reply state that she has left you on her own accord without any rhyme or reason and make use of the attached judgement. Then court wont give any relief to wife. Honorable SC, has long long back observed that no relief should be given to wife who deserted husband on her own wish.
So it depends on the above explained factors as to whether court will order maintenance, interim or permanent. Such IA ordered will be from the date of its application and not from the date of order. Usually court will give time for you to pay money, it wont force you suddenly to pay the balance.
My advice to you is, keep paying little by little if the court orders some maintenance, take sufficient time to pay the whole balance. Maintenance ordered is usually 1/3rd of take home income [gross - deductions - expenses = take home salary] you are also supposed to file your statement which shows your take home income for court to arrive at a appropriate figure for IA and also permanent maintenance. And arrears can be claimed for only 1 year. At end of 1 year, sweety wife should file application for IA, for that you have to reply and if there is any change in your job or income, file appropriate change in circumstances application u/s 127.
Sorry. Forgot to attach judgement. Will attach in next reply.
