IMPORTANT POINT
The jurisdiction for guardianship applications is based on the minor's ordinary residence, prioritizing their convenience in court proceedings.

ORDER :

(Viju Abraham, J.) :

The above Transfer Petition is filed seeking transfer of OP(G&W) No.1706/2023 on the file of the Family Court, Paravur to the Family Court, Thodupuzha.

2. The petitioner is the respondent in OP (G&W)No.1706 of 2023 on the file of the Family Court, Paravur. The marriage of the parties was solemnized on 6.11.2003 and in the said wedlock 2 sons and one daughter were born to them. It is averred that the early days of the marriage were peaceful, later on, the respondent began exhibiting signs of mental abnormalities and she continuously showed an arrogant attitude even towards the children and never expressed any love or affection towards them. Later she left home without informing the children. Thereafter, the respondent had filed a petition as OP(C) No.2471/2021 before the Family Court, Ernakulam praying for a declaration that she is the permanent guardian of the minor children. The above Original Petition filed as OP (C) No.2471/2021 was transferred to the newly formed Family Court at North Paravur and got renumbered as OP (G&W)No.1706/2023 and the matter is now pending consideration.

3. Petitioner contends that he along with his minor children are residing at KSEB Quarters in Chithirapuram. The minor children are studying at the Govt. High School, Munnar in 9th and 7th standard respectively. Since the children are permanently residing at Chithirapuram in Idukki District, the Family Court, North Paravur has no jurisdiction to entertain the petition for their permanent custody and guardianship and if the original petition is transferred to Family Court Thodupuzha it will be very convenient for him and the children for making appearance in the court. It is in the said circumstance, the petitioner has sought for transfer of OP(G&W)No.1706/2023 from Family Court, Paravur to Family Court, Thodupuzha.

4. Respondent entered appearance through counsel and seriously opposed the application, stating that it had been filed before the proper forum and that the wife's convenience should be taken into consideration while considering an application for transfer.

5. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned counsel appearing for the respondent.

6. Admittedly, the children are residing along with the petitioner at KSEB Quarters, Chithirapuram and they are studying in 9th and 7th standard respectively in Government High School, Munnar. Section 9 of The Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, deals with the court having jurisdiction to entertain an application under the said Act, which reads as follows:

“9. Court having jurisdiction to entertain application.— (1) If the application is with respect to the guardianship of the person of the minor, it shall be made to the District Court having jurisdiction in the place where the minor ordinarily resides.

(2) If the application is with respect to the guardianship of the property of the minor, it may be made either to the District Court having jurisdiction in the place where the minor ordinarily resides or to a District Court having jurisdiction in a place where he has property.

(3) If an application with respect to the guardianship of the property of a minor is made to a District Court other than that having jurisdiction in the place where the minor ordinarily resides, the Court may return the application if in its opinion the application would be disposed of more justly or conveniently by any other District Court having jurisdiction.

(underline supplied)

Going by Section 9 of The Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 Act any application with respect to the guardianship of the person of the minor shall be made to the District Court having jurisdiction in the place where the minor ordinarily resides.

7. The Division Bench of this Court in Madhu Rajendra Prasad Nair v. Sreelatha Baskaran Pillai, 2017 (4) KLT 718 has held that the solitary test for determining jurisdiction of the family court over a ward is the “ordinary residence” of the minor. This Court in Biny Kuriakose v.