"17. Under the Hindu Law father not only has a moral but even a statutory obligation to maintain his infant children. The scope of his duty is to be regulated directly in relation to the money, status, that the father enjoys. The right of maintenance of a child from his father cannot be restricted to two meals a day but must be determined on the basis of the benefit, status and money that the child would have enjoyed as if he was living with the family, including his mother and father. Irrespective of the differences and grievances which each spouse may have against the other, the endeavour of the Court has to be to provide the best to the child in the facts and circumstances of each case and more so keeping the welfare of the child in mind for all such determinations. Liability to maintain one's children is clear from the text of this statute as well as the various decided cases in this regard. The statutory obligation is paramount to the wish of the father and he cannot be permitted to limit this claim of the child on flimsy and baseless grounds."
