Case Stories: Maintenance Secured through Mediation

Mrs P reached out to us through her employer, also a lawyer. Her request was simple - help me separate from my absentee husband and secure maintenance for my children.

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Mr and Mrs P were married in May 2005. They share two children, who are now aged 18 and 12. Unfortunately, the marriage was an unhappy one and there was significant acrimony between the parties. Mrs alleged that Mr P was engaged in a number of affairs, consumed excessive amounts of alcohol, and would subject her to emotional and verbal abuse. In October 2023 the parties began living separately, on different floors within the same household. 

Throughout the marriage, Mr P provided no financial support whatsoever to Mrs P. As a result of this neglect, Mrs P was left to care for the children entirely on her own. Further, Mr P refused to take responsibility for his elderly mother, a widow who resided with the family, and so she was entirely dependent on Mrs P. Mrs P’s financial struggle was such that she was required to move one of the children from his school, owing to lack of funds. In order to sustain the family, she worked a number of odd-jobs, including cooking at different homes. 

Mrs P approached the Neev Foundation in late 2023, who advised her on the options of either pre-court mediation or litigation. As pre-court settlement in this case was not possible, we filed a maintenance petition under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Court proceedings were lengthy, and involved a number of technical difficulties, including the disclosure of financial documentation and electronic records. Throughout these proceedings, Mrs P was provided with representation by Neev, and advised at every stage as to the best strategy for her moving forward. 

The court has an ongoing duty to consider whether a matter should be referred to mediation and, in this case, upon our initiative, the parties were referred to Saket Mediation Centre in August. Both single and joint sessions were held between the parties and throughout this process, Mrs P had the guidance of Neev. The parties were able to reach a settlement whereby Mr P paid Rs. 8,000 per month on or before the 10th, commencing in September of this year. 

After years of financial deprivation and hardship, this settlement is a huge relief for Mrs P and her children. Through the tool of mediation, Mr P has been required to acknowledge his obligations as a husband and father, and provide support which is long overdue. Neev are proud to play a crucial role in ensuring such justice is accessible to all individuals, no matter their financial background or personal circumstances. 

In a meeting with the Neev team in January 2026

, Mrs P expressed gratitude on both her and Mr P’s behalf to the team for helping her save her marriage while also ensuring that she was not burdened with the upbringing of her children. She informed us that she has been getting more financial support from her husband than agreed upon, thanks to the team’s intervention.

[This blog post was originally written by Maya Achan, Barrister as her part of her Internship with Neev Foundation in October 2025. Updated and Edited by the Team in January 2026.]