who said unmarried daughters are a liability to their fathers

No Direct Quote Found for "Unmarried Daughters as Liability" The phrase "unmarried daughters are a liability to their fathers" doesn't trace back to a specific famous person or exact quote in public records or discussions. Instead, it echoes cultural attitudes and legal interpretations in places like India, where fathers bear significant financial duties toward unmarried daughters.
Legal Contexts in India
Indian courts have repeatedly affirmed a father's moral and legal obligation to support unmarried daughters, framing it as a duty rather than a burden—but the language sometimes highlights the strain.
- Bombay High Court (2017): Ruled it's a father's role to "maintain her in a good condition, provide education and perform her marriage," rejecting neglect after remarriage. The bench criticized the father for failing this, upholding Rs8,000 monthly maintenance.
- Chhattisgarh High Court (2025): Even major unmarried daughters (e.g., 25-year-old) can claim maintenance and marriage expenses under Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act Sections 3(b) and 20(3). Quote: "A father cannot abdicate his responsibility... This obligation is legal and absolute." Drew from Supreme Court cases like Abhilasha v. Parkash (2021).
These rulings portray support as a statutory right , not optional, with tables summarizing key laws:
Law/Case| Core Ruling| Implication
---|---|---
Section 20(3), HAMA 1956| Unmarried daughter unable to maintain herself gets
support till marriage.| Absolute right, even post-majority. 2
Abhilasha v. Parkash (SC, 2021)| Father's duty persists; enforceable by
law.| Quoted fully in recent HC orders. 2
Jagdish Jugtawat (SC, 2002)| Maintenance continues after 18 till wed.|
Reinforces lifelong tie till marriage. 2
Cultural and Religious Echoes
Similar ideas appear beyond courts, often without calling daughters a "liability" outright.
- Islamic tradition: A father must spend on unmarried daughters until marriage, per fatwas—seen as obligatory, not optional. Prophet's saying via Abdullah ibn Umar underscores this.
- Biblical/Christian forums: Discussions note daughters under father's "covering" until marriage, per some interpretations (e.g., Reddit threads on authority verses). No direct liability phrasing.
- Modern backlash: Social posts flip it positively—"An unmarried daughter is way better than an unhappy married one"—pushing against pressure.
Trending Forum Views (2025-2026)
Online chatter, especially men's rights forums tied to cases like Chhattisgarh HC, calls this a gender-skewed liability :
- "Financial burden only on men; adult daughter's responsibility ignored."
- Critics highlight no parallel mother duties, second-family strains.
- Proponents stress moral duty, kanyadaan (gift of daughter) as pious Hindu obligation.
Multi-viewpoint: Feminists see empowerment via legal rights; traditionalists view family honor; skeptics decry one-sided laws. No viral "who said it" scoop, but it trends in maintenance debates post-2025 rulings. TL;DR Bottom: No single speaker coined the exact phrase; it reflects Indian legal duties (e.g., HAMA) and cultural norms, with courts enforcing support—not liability—till marriage. Recent cases amplify discussions.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.