Maintenance pendente lite.- Where in any proceeding under this

Act it appears to the Tribunal that the applicant is unable to maintain himself and has no independent income, it may, on the application of the applicant supported by an affidavit, order the respondent to pay to the applicant such sum by way of interim maintenance as, having regard to the income of the respondent, it may seem to the Tribunal to be reasonable but which shall not be less than Rs. 500/- per month pending the final disposal of the maintenance application.