Pay estranged wife for child's treatment: Family court

A husband who questioned his estranged wife’s decision to treat their daughter at a private hospital has been asked by the family court to reimburse the expenses incurred by her. “No comment can be passed on the choice of the hospital as it was done in the best interest of the child. The husband should reimburse the cost mentioned in those bills,” judge PL Palsingankar said.

The wife’s advocate said she spent Rs38,000 to treat her daughter’s tonsils. Apart from this, Rs1,100 was spent for pathological and X-ray examinations, and Rs218 on medicines. The husband said he was willing to get her daughter treated at Lokmanya Tilak (Sion) hospital. He even proved that he was paying Rs68,000 as her school and tuition fees and Rs18,000 for other expenses.

The judge, however, noted the apprehension expressed by the wife, who said her estranged husband was not paying maintenance regularly. “In such a situation, how can a wife have faith in her husband that he will take the daughter either to Sion hospital or any other hospital?” Palsingankar said.