Question: I work as a XYZ (low paying job), and my income is only __________ (a rather low amount). But the judge has ordered an amount of Rs ___________, an amount much more than my income. What should I do?
That reminds me of a story/joke of a man who has taken a loan – he being worried that he will be unable to pay the next instalment on time. He gets sage advice from a clergy, “if you can’t pay the money, it should be their problem more than yours, so let them worry about it!” 
Of course such problems can’t always be laughed away. But to an extent a bit of above attitude is a must in such circumstances.
E.g. we know from newspaper stories, and I know one personally, about men who have written to their states’ High Court to grant permission to sell their kidney to be able to pay maintenance. To my knowledge, no such permission has been granted by any High Court in India to any such applicant.
You can’t take life and health of one person to grant life and health to another -- the wife being maintained in these cases. Why can’t the same logic which is applied to man be applied to woman? That she is healthy in body and mind, and surely she can find some work if she wants to.
Now I am assuming that the people who are asking such questions are saying the truth. I mean if someone says that his income is only 10,000 per month but he goes to a private club, then he should handle his maintenance issues himself and not bother MRAs.
Doing the best I can
“Your honour, I have Rs 2000 (or whatever amount) left after spending on my parents, my own food/commute, loan/EMI etc; so I am here to pay that much amount from my monthly maintenance. I am doing the best I can.”
It can only be done and experienced. No one else, not even any advocate can advise on these things. Do you need advocate’s advice on how to run your expenses?
I know of one person who has done it and done it successfully. He never got arrested or thrown in jail, though FLW (fine levy warrant) was issued and even police came once to his house to produce him in court. So?
The CrPC 125 law may say 1 month jail for every 1 month of non-payment of maintenance, but practically speaking it has not been used much by judges. And of course if you are paying something out of total amount, then it can’t be said that you are totally not in compliance. I don’t want to go into specific clauses of the law, that can be left to lawyers. I can only say from practical experience of what I have seen in courts.
Pray the judge that if you are thrown in jail, how will you be able to pay even the partial amount? But be ready to go to jail in that case, too. Like you mean it.
People who write to HC to sell kidney don’t really want to live with only one kidney. But sometimes doing a drama is the only way to ‘reason’ with the System.
In US, people are put in jail for not paying child support (that’s what goes for maintenance over there). It is not common in India.
Asking someone to give more than they earn is not part of a democratic setup, it is tyranny and against the constitution. It can be argued that it is against the right to life and liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian constitution.
The rest is up to the individual. If the System wants to play with you, then becoming a player is the only option.
Read the main advice to men post to get a general perspective on the System.
Standard legal disclaimer applies.