2025 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 77112
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
M. Jothiraman, J
Prathima – Appellant
Versus
Sundar – Respondent
Civil Revision Petition No. 3407 of 2023
For the Appellants/Petitioners: M/s.K.Sumathi
For the Respondents: Mr.K.Chandru
In custody and visitation cases, the welfare of the child is the paramount consideration, with arrangements needing to accommodate their emotional and physical well-being.
Headnote:(A) Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 - Sections 13(1)(i-a), 25, and 26 - Visitation rights - Welfare of the child is paramount in determining visitation rights - Mother’s arduous commute for visitation poses undue hardship to child - Modification of order to allow visitation at a more accessible location for child. (Paras 10, 11)
(B) Custody and Visitation - Importance of considering the child’s best interests in custody and visitation matters is emphasized - Courts are to ensure that custody arrangements do not adversely affect children's well-being and development. (Paras 8, 9)
Facts of the case:
The petitioner sought divorce and alimony while the respondent requested visitation rights for their minor child. The original order required the mother to bring the child to Chennai for visitation, which was contested due to logistical and psychological implications.
Findings of Court:
The initial visitation arrangement was found impractical and was modified to accommodate the welfare of the child. The father is to visit the child at a more suitable location, minimizing disruption to the child’s routine.
Issues: The Court addressed the balancing of visitation rights with the practical implications on the child's welfare and the associated hardships for the mother in complying with the visitation order.
Ratio Decidendi: The welfare and well-being of the child take precedence over parental rights, with courts required to structure visitation in a manner that supports the child's development and well-being.
Result: The order was modified to facilitate visitation at a more accessible location for the child.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. petitioner seeks divorce and challenges visitation rights. (Para 1 , 2 , 3) |
| 2. court modifies visitation rights emphasizing child's best interests. (Para 4 , 9 , 11) |
| 3. welfare of the child governs visitation arrangements. (Para 5 , 6 , 10) |
ORDER
The petitioner/wife has preferred this Civil Revision Petition. The petitioner / wife has filed an application under Section 13 (1)(i-a) and Section 25 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 [in short “Act”] in O.P.No.2378 of 2022, seeking for divorce and also for grant of a sum of Rs.75,00,000/- towards permanent alimony as per of the Act. When the case was pending, the respondent / husband filed an application under Section 26 of the Act in I.A.No.1 of 2023 in O.P.No.2378 of 2022, praying to grant visitation rights to him to see his minor child Liruthi, aged about 7 years, every weekend on Saturday and Sunday till the disposal of the main petition and the same was allowed partly on 27.06.2023 by the Court below with a direction to produec the child at the Child Care Centre attached to the Family Court at Chennai on the 1st Saturday and 3rd Saturday, every month at 11.00 a.m. To 2.00 p.m with certain conditions. Aggrieved over the same, the petitioner/wife has filed the present Civil Revision Petition.
2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner has filed a petition for maintenance of the girl child, aged about 8 years, as early as in the month of February, 2023 and the respondent/father has failed to pay even a single rupee towards the child's maintenance till date. The Trial Court has failed to see that the petitioner is residing at Hosur along with her minor daughter and she has to avail leave from work to attend the hearings before the I Additional Family Court at Chennai and therefore, the order impugnd directing the petitioner to bring the tender child to Chennai to facilitate the respondent's visitation rights is against equity and justice. It would be extremely cumbersome and would cause serious strain to a tender child of 8 years to travel to Chennai from Hosur on every Saturday enbling her father to visit her child. The learned counsel for the petitioner would further submit that the Court below has failed to see that the cost of travel both for the petitioner and the yound child should be borne by her and the Court below ignored the fact that the respondent has failed to maintain the minor child and this has led to the petitioner herein filing a petition for maintenance. The learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that the petitioner is working in Bangalore and she is taking care of the minor child and whileso, travelling from Chennai to Bangalore along with the child causes enormous physical and emotional pain to the petitioner. It is further submitted that the petitioner filed I.A.No.2 of 2023 in O.P.No.2378 of 2022, seeking for maintenance and till date, the respondent has not paid any amount towards maintenance to the child and the order impugned granting visitation rights to the respondent / father causes severe hardship to the petitioner. A mother maintaining a child without the support of a father ought not to have been directed to bring her child to Chennai on her own cost to enable the father visit the child that too without any responsibility tagged on him. The learned counsel for the petitioner / wife further submits that the respondent / father may be permitted to vist her child at Hosur.
3. Per contra, learned counsel appearing for the respondent /father would submit that there is a threat to the respondent's life from the petitioner's side since the petitioner's father is an influential person in the locality and there is apprehension to his life when he goes to Hosur and he is ready to visit the child at Vellore, which is a common place for both of them.
4. Heard the learned counsel for the parties and perused the materials available on record,.
5. It is not in dispute that the minor child is with the m