( 1 ) THIS appeal is instituted by the original respondents 1 and 2 against the order dated 30-7-1976 by the District Judge, Chickmagalur in Guardian and Wards Case No. 16 of 1975 on his file allowing the petition of the father for custody of the child.

( 2 ) SRI S. A. Satyakumar, presented an application to the District Court under Section 10 of the guardians and Wards Act (hereinafter called the 'act') praying for custody of his minor son ravishankar. He has averred in the petition that Ravishankar was born on 7-8-1972 and that his wife, the mother of the child, died after delivery and ever since the time the child was born, the child was being brought up in the house of the maternal grand parents. He has further averred that he allowed the child to remain in the house of the maternal grand parents of the child as they were shocked by the death of their daughter, his wife. Of late, differences arose between him and his father-in-law and mother-in-law and they had taken hostile attitude towards him and they were not allowing him to see his son. A pan-chayathi was held in June, 1974 in connection with the handing over of the child as also the movables belonging to t