30/06/2025
CHILD MAINTENANCE
P L D 2013 Supreme Court 557
Present: Mian Saqib Nisar, Asif Saeed Khan Khosa and Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, JJ
HUMAYUN HASSAN---Appellants
Versus
ARSLAN HUMAYUN and another---Respondents
Civil Appeal No.5-L of 2013, decided on 20th February, 2013.
(On appeal from the judgment dated 28-2-2012 of Lahore High Court, Lahore passed in
Writ Petition No.3112 of 2012).
Per Mian Saqib Nisar, J; Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, J, agreeing--
(a) Islamic law---
----Maintenance, definition of---Scope---Obligation of father to pay maintenance to his children-
--Scope---Maintenance meant and included food, raiment and lodging---Such definition was
neither conclusive nor exhaustive, and had a wider connotation and should be given an extended
meaning for the purposes of meeting and catering for the present days social, physical, mental
growth, upbringing and well-being of the minor, keeping in mind the status of the family, the
norms of the society and his educational requirement, but obviously corresponding to and
commensurating with the means and the capacity of the father to pay.
Muhammadan Law by D.F. Mullah Para.369 ref.
Ahmadellah v. Mafizuddin Ahmad and another AIR 1973 Gauhati 56 ref.
(b) Islamic law---
----Maintenance for children---Obligation of father to pay maintenance to his son---General rule
and exception---Scope---Father in the normal course was bound to maintain his son(s) only till
the time he attained the age of puberty, however there was an exception to such rule, and that
was the disability of the son by infirmity or disease in which case the obligation of the
father was extended to an adult son as well.
Muhammadan Law by D.F. Mullah, Para 370 ref.
(c) Islamic law---
----Maintenance for (adult) son who has attained age of majority---Obligation of father to
maintain his adult son for purposes of his educational needs---Scope---Obligation of the father to
maintain his adult son who had not yet completed his basic education, enabling him to earn his
livelihood, might be considered by the court(s) in an appropriate case (an exception to the
general rule)---For such purposes a specific case had to be initiated and set out by the (adult) son
before the court of original jurisdiction (competent jurisdiction), and the court on the basis of the
case so propounded and pleadings of the parties, was obliged to determine, with reference to the
facts of the case, whether the adult son should at all be entitled to the maintenance, as he was still
pursuing his education---Court in such regard should keep in consideration age (of adult son);
whether he (i.e. adult son) had his own resources to sustain his studies; the nature and stage of
his studies; his academic results, his fervor and zeal for education; the extent of education which
was essential to enable him to earn a livelihood, but it did not include higher studies and
education abroad, especially where the (adult) son had gone aboard for such education either of
his own without there being any promise by the father or on the behest of someone else who had
assured to support him---While determining and adjudging whether the father should provide
maintenance to his adult son court(s) should also keep in view the fact whether the son gave due
respect and showed regard to his father, and was not disobedient or estranged---Capacity of the
father also had to be kept in view.
Mohummadan Law by Neil B.E. Baillie rel.
Mahommedan Law by Ammer Ali (Syed) [revised edition by Justice S.H.A. Raza],
Principles of Mohammedan Law by Dr. Nishi Purohit and Alaf Din v. Mst. Parveen Akhtar PLD
1970 SC 75 rel.
Arbab Mir Muhammad v. Mst. Iram Iltimas PLD 2005 SC 24 distinguished.
(d) West Pakistan Family Courts Act (###V of 1964)---
----Ss. 13(4) & 5, Sched.---Decree for maintenance of child passed by Family Court---
Jurisdiction of Family Court (Executing Court) to execute such decree---Scope---Son (who was a
minor at the time) filed a suit for maintenance against his father---Family Court passed a decree
in favour of the son, which decree attained finality up to the Supreme Court---During pendency
of ex*****on proceedings of the said decree son crossed the age of 18 years and attained age of
majority---Father moved an application before the Executing Court (Family Court) contending
that his son had reached age of majority, therefore, he was under no obligation to pay further
maintenance, and the ex*****on petition should accordingly be dismissed---Executing Court
(Family Court) dismissed application of father finding that it was in the interest of justice, equity
and fair play that father should maintain his son up to the time that he completed his education
and became a working hand---Constitutional petition filed by father against order of Executing
Court was also dismissed---Legality---No specific judgment and decree had been passed in
favour of the son, directing the father to provide maintenance to the (adult) son, even after he had
attained the age of majority or had ceased to be a minor---Executing court had no jurisdiction to
go beyond the decree and thus could not require and direct the father to continue paying the
maintenance to his adult son, only for the reason that he was still studying---Decree passed by
Family Court, which had attained finality, contained no specific command to the effect that it
should remain in force even beyond the majority of son , thus it ceased to have effect
automatically the day the son attained 18 years of age---Executing court was divested of its
jurisdiction to enforce the decree further and could not extend its life, when it had lapsed---
Ex*****on proceedings initiated by the (adult) son against his father for enforcement of decree of
Family Court came to an end from the date the son attained age of majority i.e. 18 years---
Appeal was allowed accordingly and judgments of High Court and Executing Court were set
aside.
Per Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, J; agreeing with Mian Saqib Nisar, J.
(e) Islamic law---
----Parental obligations---Principles relevant for adjudication by court---Where a court of law
was to adjudicate upon parental obligations of a Muslim it was only the legal principles
concomitant to such obligations which were relevant and not the social or moral principles.
(f) West Pakistan Family Courts Act (###V of 1964)---
----Ss. 13(4) & 5, Sched.---Decree for maintenance of child---Principles relevant for passing
such decree---Scope---Jurisdiction of Family Court (Executing Court) to execute a decree for
maintenance of child---Scope---Son (who was a minor at the time) filed a suit for maintenance
against his father---Family Court passed a decree in favour of the son, which decree attained
finality up to the Supreme Court---During pendency of ex*****on proceedings of the said decree
son crossed the age of 18 years and attained age of majority---Father moved an application
before the Executing Court (Family Court) contending that his son had reached age of majority,
therefore, he was under no obligation to pay further maintenance, and the ex*****on petition
should accordingly be dismissed---Executing Court (Family Court) dismissed application of
father finding that it was in the interest of justice, equity and fair play that father should maintain
his son up to the time that he completed his education and became a working hand---
Constitutional petition filed by father against order of Executing Court was also dismissed by the
High Court---Legality---Where a court of law was to adjudicate upon parental obligations of a
Muslim it was only the legal principles concomitant to such obligations which were relevant and
not the social or moral principles---Father or any of the parents in a given case, might be under a
social or moral expectation, compulsion or obligation to maintain a minor offspring for as long
as the offspring did not attain the requisite physical, mental, intellectual and financial capacity to
survive and sustain on his own but present case before the Trial Court was only in respect of
maintenance of a minor son by his father which issue, on the legal plane, could not have been
stretched by the Executing Court (Family Court) and High Court to a stage beyond the son's
minority by blurring the distinction between social and moral obligations and legal obligations
under the principles of Muslim personal law---Appeal was allowed accordingly and judgments of
High Court and Executing Court were set aside.
Atir Mahmood, Advocate Supreme Court for Appellants.
Sanaullah Malik, Advocate Supreme Court and M.A. Qureshi, Advocate-on-Record for
Respondent No.1.
Date of hearing: 20th February, 2013.
ORDER
MIAN SAQIB NISAR, J.---This appeal with the leave of the Court has simple facts, in
that, respondent No.1 being a minor son of the appellant filed a suit for maintenance against his
father, on 2-4-1999 and the learned Family Judge passed a decree dated 3-2-2009 in his favour,
to the tune of certain amount, which has attained finality up to this Court. It seems that the
ex*****on proceeding qua the decree, filed by the respondent were pending and as in the
meanwhile he (respondent No.1) has attained the age of majority, the appellant therefore on 14-
9-2011 moved an application to the said Court in the terms below:--
"That the decree holder/Arslan Humayun attained the age of majority on 1st March 2011
is no more the minor ware (sic) ward and as such the petitioner/judgment debtor is under no
obligation to further pay maintenance allowance to Arslan Humayun. It is submitted that this
Hon'ble Court has now ceased to have any jurisdiction to further proceed with the matter.
It is, therefore, respectfully prayed that the instant application may kindly be accepted
and the titled ex*****on petition may kindly be dismissed/ disposed of as being fructified."
This application was dismissed by the Executing Court vide order dated 28-11-2011, the
operative part whereof reads as:--
"The applicant/judgment debtor cannot be relieved from his responsibilities for providing
maintenance to the minor fixed by the Court and upheld by the august Supreme Court of
Pakistan. It in the interest of justice, equity and fair play that judgment debtor should maintain
his son up to the time that he completes his education and become working hand. In this regard, I
am fortified by dictum laid down in PLD 2005 Supreme Court 24. Application in hand is hereby
rejected. Now to come up for payment of all the remaining outstanding maintenance allowance
on 19-12-2011".
This order, when challenged by the appellant through a constitution petition before the learned
High Court, has been upheld vide impugned judgment dated 28-2-2012. Leave in this case was
granted on 1-1-2013 to consider the effect of the law laid down by this Court in the cases
reported as Arbab Mir Muhammad v. Mst. Iram Iltimas (PLD 2005 SC 24) and Alaf Din v. Mst.
Parveen Akhtar (PLD 1970 SC 75) and whether the respondent after having attained the age of
majority (under the codified law of the country) is still entitled to and/or the appellant is bound to
maintain his adult son; besides, whether the Executing/Family Court has the jurisdiction to
compel the appellant to pay the maintenance allowance, when the respondent admittedly has
crossed the age of 18 years.
2. Learned counsel for the appellant has made reference to the two noted judgments and has
argued, that no law has been enunciated in these dicta, to the effect that after attaining the age of
majority a father shall be bound to maintain his adult son. In Arbab Mir Muhammad case
(supra), passing remarks have been made, whereas in Alaf Din case, it has been categorically
held that the father is not bound to bear the study expenses of his major son. It is submitted that
the obligation of the father to maintain his children is specified in Section 370 of Muhammadan
Law by D.F. Mullah and the respondent's case does not fall within the purview thereof; it is
added that respondent is 19 years and 11 months of age, he is studying in Australia, where he has
gone without the consent of his father, rather has been sent by his mother, since divorced by the
appellant; Arslan, respondent No.1, keeps no contact with the appellant, therefore in such
circumstances the appellant cannot be compelled to pay the maintenance to his estranged son.
Moreover, after attaining the age of majority, the decree for maintenance against the appellant
has lapsed; it has ceased to exist and is rendered in-executable; besides, that the Executing Court
while executing a decree passed under Muslim Family Courts Act, 1964 shall only have the
jurisdiction to enforce the decree, till the time the decree holder (respondent No. 1) was a minor,
but once he has attained the age of majority, the Executing Court is divested of its jurisdiction to
enforce the decree and the impugned orders, are thus without jurisdiction.
3. On the contrary, learned counsel for the respondent has argued, that as the respondent is
the son of the appellant, who is not yet capable of maintaining himself as he is studying,
therefore, his father is duty bound to maintain his child till the time he completes his education
and is able to earn his livelihood.
4. Heard. There can be no cavil with the proposition that the maintenance issue(s), in
relation to Muslim relatives shall be governed and regulated by the principles/injunctions of
Islam i.e. as per the personal law of the parties. In this context, according to section 369 of the
Muhammadan Law by D.F. Mullah, maintenance means and includes food, raiment and lodging.
However, it may be observed that from the very language of the above section, such definition is
neither conclusive nor exhaustive, and in our view it undoubtedly has a wider connotation and
should be given an extended meaning, for the purposes of meeting and catering for the present
days social, physical, mental growth, upbringing and well being of the minor, keeping in mind
the status of the family, the norms of the society and his educational requirement, which has now
attained utmost importance[1
]; but obviously corresponding to and commensurating with the
means and the capacity of the father to pay. Anyhow, the same jurist in section 370 of the book
has elucidated the liability of the father to pay the maintenance to his children as follows:--
"370. Maintenance of children and grandchildren.---(1) A father is bound to maintain his
sons until they have attained the age of puberty. He is also bound to maintain his daughters until
they are married. But he is not bound to maintain his adult sons unless they are disabled by
infirmity or disease. The fact that the children are in the custody of their mother during their
infancy (section 352) does not relieve the father from the obligation of maintaining them. But the
father is not bound to maintain a child who is capable of being maintained out of his or her own
property.
(2) If the father is poor, and in capable of earning by his own labour, the mother, if she is in
easy circumstances, is bound to maintain her children as the father would be.
(3) If the father is poor and infirm, and the mother also is poor, the obligation to maintain the
children lies on the grandfather, provided he is in easy circumstances."
From the above it emerges, that subject to the conditionalties mentioned therein, a father in the
normal course is bound to maintain his son(s) only till the time he attains the age of puberty,
however there is an exception to this rule, and that is the disability of the son by infirmity or
disease in which case the obligation of the father is extended for his adult son as well. It is not
disputed by the respondent side, that Arslan has attained the age of puberty; he is a major in
terms of section 3 of the Majority Act, 1875 read with Section 4 of the Guardians and Wards
Act, 1890, as he is about 20 years of age. And in any case he is an adult and not a minor any
more. He is not suffering from any disability on account of infirmity or disease. Thus the father
in the ordinary course, under the aforesaid clause is not obliged to maintain him and the case of
the respondent does not fall within the exception(s) mentioned by D.F Mullah. However, some
other renowned jurists in their exposition on the subject have expanded the scope of exemption.
As Neil B.E. Baillie in his book/digest Mohummadan Law has described:--
"And so also students of learning, when unable to earn anything; and their right to
maintenance from their fathers does not abate while engaged in legal study."
Furthermore
"when a man is absent, but has left available property, maintenance may be ordered out
of it by the judge to the following persons if they are poor; but to none other, viz., his parents; his
male children if young, or, though adult, if unable to gain their livelihood"
Ammer Ali (Syed) in his commentaries on Mahommedan Law, revised edition, by Justice S.H.A.
Raza has opined as:--
"Maintenance of male children.--The obligation of maintaining the male children lasts
until they arrive at puberty. After this, a father is not bound to maintain his male children, unless
they are incapacitated from work through some diseases or physical infirmity, or are engaged in
study. When male children are strong enough to earn their own livelihood, though not actually
adult, the father may set them to work for their own subsistence or hire them out for wages.
If the male children are actually able to work, but the employment found for them is
unsuitable or improper for their rank in life, they would be placed on the same footing as
children labouring under some infirmity. Ability to work must, in such cases, be considered with
reference to the social position of the children, as well as the parents; so that a father occupying a
respectable position, in which the children have been brought up delicately, must not hire them
out for work which is degrading in its nature or associations".
In the Principles of Mohammedan Law by Dr. Nishi Purohit , it has been provided as:--
"Father's obligation of maintenance comes to an end when the sons become major. But
the father is required to maintain his adult son who has been disabled on account of some
disease, or physical or mental infirmity or is engaged in study (emphasis supplied)"
Besides the above, in relation to the maintenance of children, this Court in the case reported as
Alaf Din v. Mst. Parveen Akhtar (PLD 1970 SC 75), has held:--
"Normally a child, after attaining majority, would be physically in a position to maintain
itself, for, it would then be capable of earning some kind of a livelihood. But this again is a
question which will depend upon the status and circumstances of each individual family. Thus,
although the section does not make any reference to the age of majority, it is a consideration
which must inevitably be taken into account by the Court when deciding the question as to
whether the child is or is not able to maintain itself. Thus an infirm or decrepit or deformed son
or daughter may be entitled to claim maintenance even up to a very advanced age, while
an able-bodied son or daughter might be deprived of the right if he/she has already found
suitable gainful employment and is in a position to maintain himself or herself.
Again in interpreting the word "maintenance" some reasonable standard must be adopted.
Whilst it is not confined merely to food, clothing and lodging, it cannot, by any stretch of
imagination, be extended to incorporate within it education at higher levels ad infinitum. What is
necessary to decide in this connection is to find out as to what amount of education has to be
attained by the child concerned, having regard to the status and other circumstances of his
family, to enable it to earn a complete livelihood by honest and decent means. Thus it may not be
sufficient to say that the child of a tradesman can maintain itself by working as coolly or by
thieving. What is required is that that child must
