Lakshmanan, J.

1. This petition is filed under Section 25 of the Guardians and Wards Act VIII of 1890 read with Section 6 of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act XXXII of 1956. This Original Petition concerns guardianship and custody of the minor girl Dhanalakshmi alias Chithra aged about 9 months on the date of the petition. She was born to the petitioner/Velan and one M. Nageswari on 23.3.1987 in Madras. The petitioner/father is natural guardian for the minor. The child lost her mother due to jaundice.

2. The facts placed in this have disclosed that the marriage between the parents of the minor child took place on 10.2.1986 in Madras, according to Hindu rites and customs. The parents of the minor were residing at No. 21, Kannabiran Koil Street, Perambur, Madras-11. However, unfortunately on 15.10.1987 the mother of the child died due to jaundice. Even before the petitioner could complete all the ceremonies for his wife, respondents 2 and 3 mother-in-law and sister-in-law of the petitioner, without the permission or consent of the petitioner stealthily removed the child on 16.10.1987, when the petitioner was away. It is seen from the records that the demise of the mother of