The Uttarakhand High Court has set aside an order of the Nainital family court that had granted interim maintenance to a woman claiming to be the second wife of a retired government employee, directing that the matter be examined afresh.

Justice Ashish Naithani, who heard the criminal revision petition filed by Kharak Singh, said the family court had failed to properly investigate the woman’s identity, her marital status, and the legitimacy of her claim that she was Singh’s second wife. The judge noted that the case raised “complex factual issues” that demanded a detailed inquiry before any maintenance could be awarded.

The family court had earlier directed payment of maintenance to one Dhanuli Devi. Challenging that order, Singh told the High Court that his lawful wife had died on Augus

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