The Supreme Court has set a benchmark for maintenance to be paid by a husband to his estranged wife. The Court said that twenty five percent of his net salary might constitute a just and proper amount as alimony.<br/><br/> According to media reports, a bench of Justices R Banumathi and M M Santanagoudar directed a resident of West Bengal to set aside twenty five percent as maintenance for his former wife and their son. <br/><br/>The court said the amount of maintenance or permanent alimony must be sufficient to ensure that a woman lived with dignity after separating from her husband.