Clause 108

On any decree absolute for divorce or for nullity of marriage, or on any decree of judicial separation obtained by a wife, the court may, if it thinks fit, order that the husband shall, to the satisfaction of the court, secure to the wife such gross sum of money or such annual sum of money for any term not exceeding her life as, having regard to her fortune, if any, to the ability of the husband and to the conduct of the parties, it deems reasonable, and for that purpose may refer the matter to the Registrar of the Supreme Court or to some advocate and solicitor to settle and approve of a proper deed or instrument to be executed by all necessary parties, and the court may, if it thinks fit, suspend the pronouncing of its decree until such deed or instrument has been duly executed.

In any such case the court may, if it thinks fit, make an order on the husband for payment to the wife during their joint lives of such monthly sum for her maintenance and support as the court thinks reasonable, and any such order may be made either in addition to or instead of an order under subsection (1) of this section.

If the husband afterwards from any cause becomes unable to make such payments, the court may discharge or modify the order or temporarily suspend the same as to the whole or any part of the money so ordered to be paid, and again revive the order wholly or in part as the court thinks fit.

Where the court has made any such order as is mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) of this section, and the court is satisfied that the means of the husband have increased, the court may, if it thinks fit, increase the amount payable under the order.