The court permitted reconsideration of custody rights previously denied due to pandemic concerns, allowing a fresh application while addressing jurisdictional issues.

JUDGMENT

Dinesh Kumar Sharma, J. (Oral)--The present petition has been filed challenging the order dated 28th August, 2020 passed by the learned Family Courts, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi in Old G. P. No. 23/2018, New G. P. No. 17/2019 tilted as Sh. Pratik Jinda & Anr. V. Smt. Shruti Jindal" with the following prayer:

"Allow the present Petition, thereby, setting aside the Order dated 28.08.2020, passed by the Ld. Family Courts, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi, in Old G.P No. 23/2018, New G.P No. 17/2019, titled as "Sh. Pratik Jindal & Anr. Vs. Smt. Shruti Jindal", and for further directions to the Respondent to handover the temporary custody of the Minor Daughters Tanishi Jindal and Vani Jindal to the Petitioners for the period which this Hon 'ble Court deems fit and proper."

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that in the application filed under Section 12 of the Guardian and Wards Act, 1890, the interim custody for 10 days was asked for but the learned Principle Judge, Family Court has fallen into an error by declining the interim custody and weekend custody thereby granting inadequate visitation rights. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that being aggrieved by inadequate visitation rights, the present petition has been filed. The learned Trial Court while deciding the question of interim custody has inter alia held as under:

"9. It is an admitted fact from the side of petitioners that the national lockdown was implemented by Govt. of India due to outbreak of Covid-19 w.e.f. 22.03.2020 and time and again, Ministry of Home Affairs has issued circulars and have advised the children below the age of 1 O years and senior citizen to stay indoors/home as they are most vulnerable to the deadly virus and that presently, unfortunately, our country is having more than 70,000/- cases per day and are at peak and admittedly touching a record high. Hence, the minor daughters cannot be exposed to the hazard of visiting Delhi at this point of time. Both the daughters are aged about 5-7 years and at present, as per the submissions of counsel for respondent, they are at Jind, along with respondent at the parental house of respondent.

10. Further, admittedly, the children have not stayed with the petitioners overnight since the last two years i.e. from August 2018. Both the children are girl child and may require the presence of their mother on account of their special needs. Further before giving overnight custody, it is necessary to develop bonding between them. So ten days overnight custody cannot be granted at this stage. However, it is admitted fact that during the lockdown period the petitioners are interacting with the minor daughters through facetime and other digital mediums on daily basis."

3. The bare perusal of para 9 and 10 of learned Trial Court order would make it clear that the prayer of interim custody or the visitation right for overnight stay was declined, pre-dominantly on the ground that at that time, Covid was at its peak. Learned Trial Court noted that there were around 70,000/- cases per day. Learned Trial Court was of the view that at that stage, the minor daughter could not have been exposed to the hazard of visiting Delhi. However, now the situation has changed. The Covid though, is still there but mercifully the numbers are not that high.

4. In these circumstances, the present petition is disposed of with a liberty to the petitioner to move a fresh application under Section 12 of the Guardian and Wards Act, 1890 before the learned Trial Court with a request for interim custody or the overnight vi