THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE N.V. RAMANA AND THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE P. DURGA PRASAD APPEAL SUIT No. 2107 of 2001 JUDGMENT: (Per Hon’ble Sri Justice N.V. Ramana) This appeal suit is directed against the judgment dated 21.06.2001 passed in O.S. No. 155 of 1997 by the Judge, Family Court, Hyderabad, decreeing the suit filed by the respondents in part and awarding past maintenance at the rate of Rs.500/- per month to each of the respondents for a period of three years prior to the suit i.e. Rs.36,000/- in total, and future maintenance at the rate of Rs.700/- each per month from the date of suit. Though the appellant contends that the 1st respondent has left his company on her own accord and refused to join him, in spite of his best efforts, and as such she is not entitled to any maintenance, the fact remains, the Court below, having considered the pleadings of the parties and the evidence adduced by them, found that there was nothing on record to show that the appellant has made any efforts to bring back the respondents to his home after the 2nd respondent was born or he paid any amounts towards their maintenance. Though the appellant, in his evidence as D.W.1, deposed that his monthly income is up to Rs.2,000/-, the Court below, having regard to the fact that he is able-bodied and running a Taxi at Mumbai, held that his monthly income would be at least Rs.3,000/- per month, and accordingly awarded maintenance at the rate of Rs.700/- per month to each of the respondents, from the date of suit, besides the past maintenance of Rs.1,000/- per month for three years prior to the suit i.e. Rs.36,000/- in total. Considering the present day cost of living and rising inflation, we are of the considered opinion that the maintenance granted by the Court below cannot be said to be excessive, warranting reduction in this appeal. The appeal suit is devoid of merits and is accordingly dismissed. No order as to costs. _____________ N.V. RAMANA, J _________________ P. DURGA PRASAD, J 14th November 2011 IBL