Hindu divorce and maintenance laws in India are primarily governed by the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955. Under this law, both Hindu men and women have the right to seek divorce on several grounds, including adultery, cruelty, desertion, conversion to another religion, and mental illness.

In addition to divorce, Hindu men and women are also entitled to maintenance after divorce. Maintenance is provided for in Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, which applies to Hindus and other religions as well. Maintenance is typically provided to women who are unable to support themselves financially after the divorce.

Hindu men and women have equal rights to property acquired during the marriage, including jointly owned property.

In Hindu law, the concept of maintenance is known as “alimony.” According to the law, a husband is legally bound to provide maintenance to his wife and children, either during the subsistence of the marriage or after divorce. The amount of alimony is determined by the court, taking into account various factors such as the earning capacity of both spouses, their standard of living, and the financial needs of the wife and children.

In recent years, there have been calls for reform of Hindu marriage and divorce laws to make them more gender-just and in line with constitutional values of equality and justice. Some of the key demands include the recognition of irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce, more effective implementation of maintenance laws, and measures to protect the property rights of women after divorce.

The government has taken some steps in this direction, including the enactment of the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005, which gives women equal rights to ancestral property. However, there is still a long way to go in ensuring that Hindu women in India have access to justice and their rights are protected.