IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
Sureshwar Thakur, J.
Manisha Maheshwari – Appellant
Versus
State of Haryana & Ors. – Respondents
CRWP No. 822 of 2021
Decided On : 11-04-2023
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. custody transfer due to mother's marriage. (Para 1 , 2 , 3 , 4) |
| 2. court's intervention for child's recovery. (Para 5 , 6) |
| 3. child's well-being as paramount in custody. (Para 7 , 8) |
| 4. importance of child welfare committee report. (Para 9 , 10) |
| 5. petitioner's claims against child custody. (Para 11 , 12) |
| 6. balance of child welfare versus parental rights. (Para 13 , 14 , 15 , 16) |
| 7. final custody decision pending further review. (Para 17 , 18 , 19) |
Judgment
Mr. Sureshwar Thakur, J. :-
Factual Background
1. The petitioner is the biological mother of the minor child Santosh @ Archit. Undisputedly, at the instant moment, the above minor child is in the custody of co-respondents No. 5 and 6, who became impleaded, as such, through an order made by this Court, on 22.02.2021, upon, CRM-W-140-2021.
2. The facts necessary which relate(s) to the assumption(s) of custody of the minor child Santosh @ Archit are that, co-respondents No. 5 and 6 assumed the custody of the above minor child, on May/June,2018 from one Anupam Muni, who is arrayed as co-respondent No. 4. The petitioner was at the relevant stage a disciple of co-respondent No. 4, and, since she had divorced her previous husband, therefore, co-respondent No. 4 persuaded her to marry his disciple Jagdish. The said marriage was solemnized on 10.02.2018. At the time of the petitioner solemnizing second marriage with Jagdish Rai, thus, she through Annexure R-4/1, handed over the custody of her minor child, to co-respondent No. 4. Annexure R-4/1 is claimed by co-respondent No. 4 to be signatured by the present petitioner. However, in the rejoinder filed by the petitioner to the reply of co-respondent No. 4, she submits that the said document is a false, and a forged document. She further denies the contents of Annexure R-4/1 being written by her or the same being signed by her. However, the said denial is left open to be made before the learned civil Court concerned, whereto, the parties have been relegated to make a recourse rather for claiming the ultimate/final custody of the minor child. The contents of Annexure R-4/1 are extracted hereinafter.
“I, Manisha, am resident of Nepal. Gurdev Sh. Anupam Muni, got my marriage held with Jagga Jagdish resident of Kalanwali. Due to this happiness, I give my son, Santosh to Gurdev Shri Anupam Muni and I am doing this work without any pressure. Now, I have no responsibility on it. Now, I have no right on him. Gurudev Shri Anupam Muni Ji is the owner of the same and after making him his disciple (son) and by bringing up him and by giving Dharam Sanskar to him, he will make him Jain Sant. Sd/- Manisha
Sd/- Anupam Muni.
3. Moreover, further the delivery of interim custody to co-respondents No. 5 and 6, has been granted by this Court, but after interacting with the minor child, and, thereby this Court concluding that the minor child is happy to reside in the company of co-respondents No. 5 and 6.
4. Co-respondents No. 5 and 6 plead, that since they were also disciples of co-respondent No. 4, and, since the present petitioner, had surrendered the minor child to co-respondent No. 4, through Annexure R-4/1. Thus, when there was none to take care of the minor child besides when the health of the minor child was frail. Resultantly co-respondent No. 4 entrusted the custody of the minor child to them in about May/June, 2018. They further plead that since then the minor child is being given the best care by them. Even the best medical care, is pleaded to be provided to the minor child, but as revealed by Annexure A-2, Annexure whereof becomes appended with their impleadment application. Moreover, Annexures R-5/3 and R-5/4, as appended with their reply, do suggest, that the said child has been admitted by them in Mango Blossoms Kids School, Begu Road, Sirsa, Haryana.
4. Co-respondent No. 4 also furnished his reply to the petition and though in the preliminary objections, he had claimed that the petition is mis-constituted and requires dismissal. Moreo
Eugenia Archetti Abdullah versus State of Kerala
Gippy Arora versus State of Punjab and others
Manju Tiwari versus Dr. Rajendra Tiwari
Roxan Sharma versus Arun Sharma
Syed Saleemuddin Versus Dr. Rukhsana 2001 2 RCR(Cri) 591
Surabhai Ravikumar Minawala versus State of Gujarat
Tejaswini Gaud and others Vs. Shekhar Jagdish Prasad Tewari and others
In custody matters, welfare of child and not right of parties is of paramount importance.
Courts prioritize a child's welfare in custody disputes, generally favoring mothers for children under five, unless specific circumstances suggest otherwise.
In custody disputes involving minors under five, the court prioritizes the welfare of the child and generally favors maternal custody unless compelling circumstances dictate otherwise.
The phrase 'ordinarily' in Section 6 of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 does not guarantee an indefeasible right to the mother for the custody of a minor boy under five years.
The welfare of the child is the paramount consideration in matters of custody, especially for minors below the age of 05 years, and the mother is ordinarily best suited to care for the infant during ....
word of caution to the community leaders who rather than taking upon themselves this task in future, without any legal background, should approach the Taluka Legal Services Authority or the District ....
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.