The Bench criticized the husband, a doctor, for disregarding his wife and children’s well-being and failing to comply with court orders to pay maintenance.
The Bombay High Court recently sentenced a doctor to six months in civil prison for repeatedly disobeying multiple court orders to pay maintenance to his wife and two children. [Dr. Sangita Ganvir v. Dr. Manish Ganvir]
The Court found Dr. Manish Ganvir guilty of willfully disregarding repeated directives, causing prolonged hardships for his family.
A Bench comprising Justices GS Kulkarni and Advait M Sethna strongly criticized the doctor’s conduct, stating:
“The contemnor has no respect for the rule of law, he has no regard to the orders passed by this Court.”
The court condemned the doctor for his efforts to avoid fulfilling his obligations.
“The contemnor not only had least regard to the orders passed by this Court, but also, a reasonable fair and natural concern to maintain the respondent (wife) and his own daughters was wholly lacking and deliberately neglected,” the Bench said.
The case stemmed from a prolonged marital dispute between a couple who married in 2002. Their conflicts began in 2009 when the husband filed for divorce, but his petition was dismissed by a family court in 2015.
Despite the dismissal, the maintenance dispute remained unresolved. In 2019, the Bombay High Court directed the husband to pay ₹35,000 per month in maintenance to his wife and two daughters. However, his consistent failure to comply prompted the wife to file a contempt of court petition in July 2019.
Over the years, the husband repeatedly attempted to evade court notices. Bailiff reports confirmed his deliberate avoidance of proceedings, yet he continued filing appeals and review petitions, including before the Supreme Court, all of which were rejected.
His persistent defiance compelled the High Court to enforce coercive measures, including issuing bailable warrants and directing personal service, yet he continued to disregard the orders.
The Court expressed its frustration, highlighting that the husband had no intention of complying and had consistently engaged in willful non-compliance.
“The contemnor appears to be quite habitual and well-versed in avoiding the process of law,” the Court noted.
The bench strongly criticized his neglect of his wife and daughters’ well-being, emphasizing that his refusal to meet his legal and moral responsibilities had subjected them to six years of hardship.
“This is a gross case wherein for six years, the contemnor in every possible manner has avoided to comply the orders of the Court. The solemnity of the Court orders clearly reflects the need for human survival of the petitioner-wife along with two daughters, who were required to survive in a respectable manner. However, the contemnor in his dispute with the petitioner has completely lost consciousness to these basic human aspects,” the Bench noted.
In his defense, the husband’s counsel argued that the maintenance amount was excessive and that his inability to comply was justified. However, the Court rejected these claims, emphasizing that the maintenance order had reached finality after being upheld in multiple proceedings, including by the Supreme Court.
The Bench unequivocally stated that the husband’s repeated non-compliance amounted to “open defiance.”
Showing no leniency, the Court sentenced him to six months in civil prison, stressing that such blatant disregard for the rule of law could not go unpunished.
As the husband was present in court during the hearing, he was immediately ordered to surrender at the High Court Police Station and taken into custody.
