125. Order for maintenance of wives,
children and parents.
(1) If any person leaving sufficient means neglects or refuses to maintain-
(a) his wife, unable to maintain herself, or
(b) his legitimate or illegitimate minor child, whether married or not,
unable to maintain itself, or
(c) his legitimate or illegitimate child (not being a married daughter) who
has attained majority, where such child is, by reason of any physical or mental
abnormality or injury unable to maintain itself, or
(d) his father or mother, unable to maintain himself or herself,
A Magistrate of' the first class may, upon proof of such neglect or refusal,
order such person to make a monthly allowance for the maintenance of his wife
or such child, father or mother, at such monthly rate1[***] as such magistrate thinks fit, and to
pay the same to such person as the Magistrate may from time to time direct::
Provided that the Magistrate may order the father of a minor female child
referred to in clause (b) to make such allowance, until she attains her
majority, if the Magistrate is satisfied that the husband of such minor female
child, if married, is not possessed of' sufficient means.
[Provided further that the Magistrate may, during the pendency of the
Proceeding regarding monthly allowance for the maintenance under this
sub-section, order such person to make a monthly allowance for the interim
maintenance of his wife or such child, father or mother, and the expenses of
such proceeding which the Magistrate considers reasonable, and to pay the same
to such person as the Magistrate may from time to time direct:
Provided also that an application for the monthly allowance for the interim
maintenance and expenses for proceeding under the second proviso shall, as far
as possible, be disposed of within sixty days from the date of the service of
notice of the application to such person]