P.R. Raman, J.

The maternal grandparents and the maternal uncle of a minor female child aged 10 years are the appellants who impugn the order passed by the Family Court, Palakkad in O.P. No.1302 of 2006 on the question of jurisdiction as a preliminary point, as requested for, holding that the said Family Court has jurisdiction to entertain the petition under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890. The matter arises in the following background.

1. 2. The father of the child who is an ordinary resident of Palakkad District preferred O.P. No. 1302 of 2006 before the Family Court, Palakkad under S.9 of the Guardians and Wards Act for getting custody of the minor child born in the wedlock between him and one Geeta. The marriage of Geeta with the first respondent was solemnised at Vishweshwara Temple, Palakkad on 111.1996. They lived together in the matrimonial home and on 10.9.1997, Geeta gave birth to a female child. Since, at that time the parents of Geeta were at Pune, having settled there, she went to her parental home at Pune where the delivery took place. Subsequently, she returned to Vandazhi along with her husband and child and at Vandazhi she committed suicide in the year