IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision: 06.02.2026 Ishwinder Singh .… Petitioner Versus Kitty Sandhu .... Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE NIDHI GUPTA Present : None for the petitioner.

Mr. Somesh Gupta, Advocate for the respondent.

NIDHI GUPTA, J. (ORAL)

1. Present contempt petition has been filed alleging willful disobedience of order dated 17.05.2024 (Annexure P-1) passed by a co- ordinate Bench of this Court in CRM-M-15867-2024 titled as ‘Ishwinder Singh vs. State of Punjab and others’.

2. Even in the second round of hearing, none has put in appearance on behalf of the petitioner. On 26.09.2025, when this case was listed for hearing, following order was passed by this Court:-

“Present Contempt Petition has been filed alleging willful disobedience of order dated 17.05.2024 passed by a Coordinate Bench of this Court in CRM-M-15867-2024 (Annexure P-1); whereby it was directed as follows:-

“In addition to the above, respondent No. 6 is directed to ensure that the petitioner is made to see the child twice in a week i.e. on every Wednesday and Saturday between 07:00 P.M. to 09:00 P.M. through video call and it will be open to the parties, if they want their grudges to be narrowed down, to communicate with each other.

Respondent No. 6 shall also assure that the petitioner meets the child once in 15 days for which they shall visit the Mediation and Conciliation Centre at District Courts Sonipat on 07.06.2024 and 21.06.2024 for 01 hour i.e. 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. The petitioner will inform the concerned SHO before going to the mediation.

It is expected that better sense prevails and the parties do not proliferate the litigation amongst them. The complaint/counter complaint as well as DDR, if any be kept in abeyance and both the petitioner as well are respondent No. 6 are strictly directed not to indulge and act in a manner which may escalate the situation.”

It is submitted by learned counsel for the petitioner that in blatant violation of the said order by this Court, the respondent is not allowing the petitioner to communicate with the child through video call.

Learned counsel for the respondent controverts the submissions of the petitioner and submits that the respondent has made every effort to comply with the order of this Court and, meetings as directed by this Court between the petitioner and the minor child transpired on 07.06.2024 and 21.06.2024 for one hour. It is submitted that however, the video calls are not possible as the child is very young.

I have heard learned counsel for the parties at considerable length. It is observed that the respondent has an uncooperative attitude in facilitating a meeting of the minor child with his father/the petitioner. Needless to say, for the benefit of the child the company of both parents is necessary. However, this Court is constrained to observe that the respondent seems adamant to not let that happen. Through the hearing, several options have been offered to the respondent by the petitioner, and by this Court, for convenient meeting times and modes. However, she is not agreeable. The attitude of the respondent has also been noted by a Coordinate Bench of this Court in order dated 13.05.2024 passed in CRM-M-15867-2024; wherein it has been observed as follows:-

“Subsequent thereto, the parties were interacted by the Court in the chamber and an effort has been made to make both of them understand/qua the welfare of the infant, but respondent No.6 is an inexorable person. However, considering the fact that the tempers are high and the parties are not in an appropriate frame of mind to explore an amicable solution, therefore, the matter is adjourned to 17.05.2024.”

Given the above facts, it is now directed that the respondent shall ensure that the petitioner meets the minor child twice a week as mutually agreed upon between the parties as under:-

Video call meeting timings-5 minutes physical meeting timings

2nd Satuday:11:00 a.m. - 02:00 p.m. 4th Saturday:11:00