Question

In legal terminology, a dependent is a person who relies on another for

• A. financial support and maintenance
• B. moral support
• C. getting loan
• D. getting tax relief

Hint:

In legal contexts, "dependency" is almost always tied to "Maintenance" (sustenance).
If a person cannot financially support themselves and relies on someone else for basic survival, they are legally a dependent.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question is based on Legal Terminology, particularly in Family Law and Social Security Laws.
We need to identify who qualifies as a "dependent" in the eyes of the law.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

• In legal terms, a dependent is an individual who is sustained by another person, relying on them for basic life necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, and medical care.
- Examples of dependents include minor children, a non-working spouse, or aged parents.

• Under laws like the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956, or the Code of Criminal Procedure (Section 125), dependents have a legal right to claim maintenance from the person they depend upon.

• Let us analyze the options:
-

Option (A): "financial support and maintenance" - This is the core legal definition of dependency. The law measures dependency based on material/financial support.
-

Option (B): "moral support" - Moral or emotional support, while socially valuable, holds no financial or legal obligation to define dependency in courts.
-

Option (C): "getting loan" - This describes a borrower-creditor relationship, which is entirely commercial.
-

Option (D): "getting tax relief" - While a taxpayer can claim tax deductions for supporting dependents, the dependent person themselves does not rely on the supporter for "getting tax relief".


Step 3: Final Answer:
A dependent is legally defined as someone relying on another for financial support and maintenance, which corresponds to Option (A).