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* IN THE HIGH COURTOF DELHIAT NEW DELHI % Judgment reserved on: 16.12.2025 Judgment pronounced on: 23.01.2026 + CONT.CAS(C) 203/2025 SUMAN SANKAR BHUNIA .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Prosenjeet Banerjee, Ms.

Shreya Singhal, Ms.

Mhasilenuo Keditsu, Ms.

Kushagra and Ms. Anshika, Advocates along with Petitioner in person.

versus DEBARATI BHUNIA CHAKRABORTY .....Respondent Through: Ms. Padma Priya, Ms.

Chitrangda Rastrauara, Mr.

Abhijeet Singh, Mr. Anirudh Singh, Mr. Aishwary Mishra, Mr. Dhananjay Shekhawat, Mr.

Sakshi Aggarwal, Mr. Yuvraj Singh, Ms. Pearl Pundir and Ms. Bhumika, Advocates.

54 + MAT.APP.(F.C.) 279/2024, CM APPL. 48675/2024 (Stay), CM APPL. 48676/2024 (Addl.Doc), CM APPL. 58539/2024 (Dir.) & CM APPL. 70136/2025 (filed by appellant for clarification and modification of the order dt. 04.11.2025)

DEBARATI BHUNIA CHAKRABORTY .....Appellant Through: Ms. Padma Priya, Ms.

Chitrangda Rastrauara, Mr.

Abhijeet Singh, Mr. Anirudh Singh, Mr. Aishwary Mishra, Mr. Dhananjay Shekhawat, Mr.

Sakshi Aggarwal, Mr. Yuvraj Singh, Ms. Pearl Pundir and Ms. Bhumika, Advocates.

versus SUMAN SANKAR BHUNIA .....Respondent Through: Mr. Prosenjeet Banerjee, Ms.

Shreya Singhal, Ms.

Mhasilenuo Keditsu, Ms.

Kushagra and Ms. Anshika, Advocates with Respondent in person. CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KSHETARPAL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARISH VAIDYANATHAN SHANKAR

J U D G M E N T

HARISH VAIDYANATHAN SHANKAR, J.

1. The present appeal, being MAT.APP.(F.C.) 279/2024, 1Matrimonial Appeal, filed by the Appellant-Wife-Mother, assails the Judgment dated 01.07.2024, 2Impugned Judgement passed by the learned Family Court, Patiala House Courts, New Delhi, 3Family Court, whereby the learned Family Court, in Guardian Petition No. 22/2021 instituted by the Husband-Father under Section 7 read with Section 25 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, 4G&W Act directed that the custody of the two minor children, namely, SSB, aged about 12 years, and DW, aged about 6 years, be handed over to the Respondent-Husband-Father.

2. The Impugned Judgment further lays down detailed directions regulating the manner in which the Respondent-Father is to exercise custody of the minor children. These directions include modalities relating to visitation, communication, and the sharing of relevant information and particulars concerning the children vis-à-vis the Appellant-Mother. Additional directions have also been issued regarding the mode and frequency of interaction with the children, as well as the apportionment of interim custody during school vacations. 3. Insofar as the contempt proceeding is concerned, CONT.CAS(C) 203/2025, 5Contempt Petition has been filed by the Husband-Father against the Wife-Mother alleging violation of the Interim Order dated 23.08.2024, read with the subsequent Interim Order dated 25.10.2024, passed by this Court in the Matrimonial Appeal. The alleged non- compliance pertains to the Husband-Father‟s rights of access to and continued contact with the minor children, as well as directions relating to the updation of records concerning the paternity of the children.

4. With the consent of the parties, the Matrimonial Appeal as well as the Contempt Petition were taken up for final hearing and are being disposed of by this common Judgment. For the sake of uniformity and consistency, and in order to avoid any ambiguity, the parties shall hereinafter be referred to in the same rank and position as assigned to them in the Matrimonial Appeal.

BRIEF FACTS:

5. The brief conspectus of the facts, as emerging from the record, is as follows:

a) The Appellant-mother and the Respondent-father were married on 26.09.2011. From the said wedlock, two children were born, namely, a son on 29.04.2013 and a daughter on 24.01.2019. After the marriage, the parties resided together at Habra, District North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, along with the parents of the Respondent-father. During this period, the son was enrolled in school at Habra, West Bengal, and the family lived together until September 2018.

b)