Ruchika Abbi &anr. v. State of National Capital Territory of Delhi & Anr.
RUCHIKAABBI v. STATE OF NATIONAL CAPITAL 901
TERRITORY OF DELHI
ABHAY MANOHAR SAPRE, J. 1. Leave granted. A
2. This appeal is filed against the final judgment and order
dated 07.11.2014 passed by the High Court of Delhi at New
Delhi in Writ Petition (Criminal) No .. 1735 of 2014 whereby the
High Court disposed of the Habe~s Corpus writ petition filed
by the appellant herein for the production and return of the minor B
daughter by issuing directions.
3. It is not necessary to set out the facts of the case in
detail except to state that the dispute which revolves around
between the parties (wife-appellant herein and husband
respondent no. 2 herein) is essentially in relation to the custody C
~ftheir minordaughter-Roshni.
4. So far as this appeal is concerned, as mentioned
above, it aris_es out of final judgment and order dated
07.11.2014 passed by the High Court of Delhi at New Delhi in 0 a habeas corpus petition bearing W.P.(Crl.) No. 1735 of2014
filed by the wife against her husband seeking production and
return of her minor daughter and praying for some
consequential reliefs therein. The High Court, by impugned
judgment, disposed of the writ petition inter alia directing the E
Family Court to dispose ofthe main custody case.
· 5. This Court, during the pendency of the proceedings,
had passed some interim orders regarding temporary custody
of the child. ·
6. Heard Mrs. Nitya Ramakrishnan, learned counsel for F
the appellant, Mr. Jagjit Singh, learned counsel for respondent
No.1 and Mr. P.K. Dey, learned counsel for respondent No.2.
7. Having heard the learned counsel for the parties and
having interacting wtth the child, we feel that it would be just
and proper to direct the Family Court, which has seized of the G
main custody case (Guardianship Case No. 115/2014) to
dispose of the pending main case, i.e., Guardianship Case
No. 115/2014, on merits preferably within six months as an
outer limit strictly in accordance with Jaw keeping in view the
paramount interest and welfare of the child and all relevant H
902 . . SUPREME COURT REPORTS'_'.- . ; [2.015] 11 S.C.R.
:. ~- . __ > .-.. .: . . ,: -· .
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A factors necessary for deciding the custody of minor child . . . . . ~ . . . -. . -. : . . . . .
uninfluenced by any of our observat1o~s. ·-. _- ·. . . _
· · ~ - D~ring the penden~y of the mai~ c~stody case, the
tempo·r.ciry ~i.Jstod{ of_ the child_-RC?shni yvil_l be with the
respond ent' no. 2 ~i.e. husband/father : The respondent no. 2
B will drop the child-on every Saturday by 6 .. 00 pm. at the
petitioner's residence and collect the child by 6.00 pm. on the
next day (Sunday). . · · ·- . · ~
· 9. We hope, trust arid expect from the appelfant and
- respondent no. 2 to cooperate with _each other~or the sake of
C their 1iiinor child's welfare and taking advafltage of temporary
custody of the child not to influence her inno'cent mind by
tutoring her arid create hatred against others fc:>r their personal
interest-a fact. which we unfortunately notic~d while interacting
with the child on two occasions . Indeed. we feel that such 0 attempt on their part and especially, respondent no. 2 may do
more harm to the child in long run.
10. rn our view, both parties being young and highly
educated should realize such things for the welfare oi their own
. -
· E child and make sincere efforts to GO me to mutual terms so that
every one is able to live happily and enjoy family life. Such
steps, if taken, will always be in the interest of everyone
including the child who needs protection, guidance, care , love
and affection of both mother a~d father, who were responsible
F- to bring her in this world.
11. We, therefore, direct the Fa miry Court to hold regular
sittings for reconciliation during the pendency of the custody .
case and if considers necessary for the welfare and interest
of the child pass any interim orders till final disposal of the
G custody case.
12. W ith the-se directions; the appeal stands disposed
of finally.·
13. In the light of the order passed hereinabove in the
appeal, no orders are required in the contempt petition.
H Kalpana K. Tripathy Appeal disposed of .
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