The Delhi High Court has ruled that child maintenance is a shared parental duty, not a punitive measure. The court emphasized that a child's needs encompass more than just basic expenses, including social and developmental activities. It rejected the argument that a mother's earning capacity absolves the father of responsibility, especially when he allegedly suppresses income. The court ordered the father to pay ₹25,000 monthly for three children, acknowledging the mother's contribution of ₹34,000.