The Kerala High Court has held that a Muslim man without the financial capacity to support his wives cannot take a second or third wife, even under the community’s customary law. In this case, the court found it unacceptable that a blind man, who admitted to living on charity and alms, should contemplate multiple marriages. Justice Kunhikrishnan noted that such practices stem from “lack of education” and a misunderstanding of Islamic law. “It is the duty of the State to see that if a blind man is begging for his livelihood, he is protected. While dismissing the wife’s maintenance petition, the high court directed that a copy of its order be sent to the Kerala Social Welfare Department.