Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami has been directed by the Calcutta High Court to pay a total of Rs 4 lakh per month in maintenance to his estranged wife, Hasin Jahan, and their daughter. The order comes as part of an ongoing legal battle between the couple, who have been locked in a prolonged and bitter dispute.
Hasin Jahan had earlier challenged a district court’s decision from 2023, which had ordered Shami to pay Rs 50,000 per month to her and Rs 80,000 to their daughter. Arguing that the amount was insufficient to meet their needs, she took the matter to the High Court.
On Tuesday, Justice Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee ruled in her favour, stating:
“A sum of Rs 1.5 lakh per month to the petitioner (wife) and Rs 2.5 lakh to the daughter is fair and reasonable to ensure their financial stability until the final verdict is delivered.”
The court also noted that Shami is free to offer additional voluntary support for his daughter’s education and other reasonable needs, beyond the court-mandated amount.
Allegations and Legal Background
Jahan had filed an FIR in March 2018 at Jadavpur police station, four years after the couple got married in April 2014. She accused Shami and members of his family of subjecting her to repeated physical and emotional abuse. Her complaint cited Section 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, and also mentioned neglect towards their daughter.
She further levelled serious allegations of dowry harassment and even match-fixing, while also stating that Shami had stopped contributing financially to support her and their daughter.
Fight for Financial Relief
In her legal appeal, Jahan had initially requested Rs 7 lakh per month for herself and Rs 3 lakh for her daughter as interim monetary relief. However, the magistrate had turned down her full request, instead awarding Rs 80,000 per month for the child, and nothing for herself at the time.
The order was later modified by the sessions court to include Rs 50,000 monthly for her and Rs 80,000 for their daughter. Unsatisfied with that amount, Jahan took the matter to the High Court.
The High Court, in its latest ruling, stated:
“Given the financial records and earnings of the opposite party (Shami), it is clear that he has the capacity to pay more. The petitioner, who has remained unmarried and is independently raising their child, deserves maintenance that reflects the standard of living she had during the marriage and one that also secures the future of the child.”
With this ruling, the court has not only revised the monthly relief significantly but also emphasized the importance of ensuring the dignity and well-being of both mother and child during a time of prolonged legal and personal turmoil.
