Half of Hardik's property to Natasha Stankovic?; Indian rules on alimony

MUMBAI: Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya and his wife Natasha Stankovic were rumoured to be on the verge of ending their brief marriage. Rumours are still rife that the two are no longer together and have started divorce proceedings.

But Hardik and Natasha have not yet responded in this regard. Rumours spread like wildfire after Natasha unfollowed Hardik on Instagram. There were also discussions about alimony and some rumours also said that Natasha would be able to acquire half of Hardik's property.

Alimony or spousal support is a legal obligation to provide financial support to a spouse in the event of a separation or divorce. Alimony is seen as a means of supporting wives who have sacrificed career opportunities and financial independence for the sake of marriage and family. However, times have changed and women of today’s India are highly educated and are settled with well-off jobs.

In India, alimony is decided not just by considering the education or job status of the women but other factors also play pivotal roles. The main laws governing alimony include the Hindu Marriage Act, Special Marriage Act, Indian Divorce Act, Muslim Women's Act, Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act.

Courts will consider various factors in alimony decisions, such as the income and assets of both parties, their standard of living during the marriage, their age and health, the duration of the marriage, and the care and needs of the children. Even if a woman is still working, she may receive alimony if there is a significant income difference between the spouses. However, if the woman is self-supporting, alimony may be less or may be cancelled. Courts often try to be fair by providing temporary support to help women become financially independent.