Poongadi And Anr vs Thangavel

The Supreme Court held that the proviso to Section 125(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure does not limit a claimant's entitlement to arrears of maintenance beyond one year prior to the application date. The Court clarified that while the enforcement of maintenance may be restricted, the right to claim arrears remains intact, allowing for civil action to recover unpaid maintenance. The Court overturned the High Court's interpretation, affirming that the liability for maintenance continues irrespective of the enforcement method used, as established in Kuldip Kaur v. Surinder Singh.