Case: Gaytri Bajaj Vs. Jiten Bhalla

the appellant by the respondent through his counsel by letter dated 13.01.2012. 11. Though the above facts stated in the aforesaid I.A. are not mentioned in the report of the Mediator submitted to this Court, what is stated in the aforesaid report dated 14.01.2012 is that on 14.01.2012 the respondent and the children were not present and that a letter dated 13.01.2012 from the counsel for the respondent had been placed before the Mediator wherein it has been stated that though the children had earlier attended the Mediation Centre they are now refusing to come to the Centre and all efforts in this regard made by their father have failed. It will also be significant to note that the statements made in the I.A. have not been controverted by the appellant - wife in any manner. 12. The law relating to custody of minors has received an exhaustive consideration of this Court in a series of pronouncements. In Gaurav Nagpal v. Sumedha Nagpal [2009 (1) SCC 142] the principles of English and American law in this regard were considered by this Court to hold that the legal position in India is not in any way different. Noticing the judgment of the Bombay High Court in Saraswati Bai Shripad Ved v. Shripad Vasanji Ved [AIR 1941 (Bom.) 103 ]; Rosy Jacob v. Jacob A Chakramakkal [(1973) 1 SCC 840] and Thirty Hoshie Dolikuka v. Hoshiam Shavdaksha Dolikuka [(1982) 2 SCC 544] this Court eventually concluded in paragraph 50 and 51 that: 50. That when the Court is confronted with conflicting demands made by the parents, each time it has to justify the demands. The Court has not only to look at the issue on legalistic basis, in such matters human angles are relevant for deciding those issues. The Court then does not give emphasis on what the parties say, it has to exercise a jurisdiction which is aimed at the welfare of the minor. As observed recently in Mousmi Moitra Gangulis case the court has to give due weightage to the childs ordinary contentment, health, education, intellectual development and favourable surroundings but over and above physical comforts, the moral and ethical values have also to be noted. They are equal if not more important than the others. 51. The word welfare used in section 13 of the Act has to be construed literally and must be taken in its widest sense. The moral and ethical welfare of the child must also weigh with the Court as well as its physical well being. Though the provisions of the special statutes which governs the rights of the parents and guardians may be taken into consideration, there is nothing which can stand in the way of the Court exercising its parens patriae jurisdiction arising in such cases. 13. The views expressed in Para 19 and 20 of the report in Mousmi Moitra Ganguli v. Jayant Ganguli [(2008) 7 SCC 673] would require special notice. In the said case it has been held that it is the welfare and interest of the child and not the rights of the parents which is the determining factor for deciding the question of custody. It was the further view of this Court that the question of welfare of the child has to be considered in the context of the facts of each case and decided cases on the issue may not be appropriate to be considered as binding precedents. Similar observations of this Court contained in para 30 of the Report in Sheila B. Das v. P.R. Sugasree [(2006) 3 SCC 62] would also require a special mention. 14. From the above it follows that an order of custody of minor children either under the provisions of The Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 or Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 is required to be made by the Court treating the interest and welfare of the minor to be of paramount importance. It is not the better right of the either parent that would require adjudication while deciding their entitlement to custody. The desire of the child coupled with the availability of a conducive and appropriate environment for proper upbringing together with the ability and means of the concerned parent to take care of the child are some of the relevant factors that have to be taken into account by the Court while deciding the issue of custody of a minor. What must be emphasized is that while all other factors are undoubtedly relevant, it is the desire, interest and welfare of the minor which is the crucial and ultimate consideration that must guide the determination required to be made by the Court. 15. In the present case irrespective of the question whether the abandonment of visitation rights by the wife was occasioned by the fraud or deceit practiced on her, as subsequently claimed, an attempt was made by this Court, even by means of a personal interaction with the children, to bring the issue with regard to custody and visitation rights to a satisfactory conclusion. From the materials on record, it is possible to conclude that the children, one of whom is on the verge of attaining majority, do not want to go with their mother. Both appear to be happy in the company of their father who also appears to be in a position to look after them; provide them with adequate educational facilities and also to maintain them in a proper and congenial manner. The children having expressed their reluctance to go with the mother, even for a short duration of time, we are left with no option but to hold that any visitation right to the mother would be adverse to the interest of the children. Besides, in view of the reluctance of the children to even meet their mother, leave alone spending time with her, we do not see how such an arrangement, i.e., visitation can be made possible by an order of the court. 16. Taking into account all the aforesaid facts, we

Court's decision (1 = petition accepted / positive for appellant, 0 = rejected / negative): 0

Reasoning from the judgment:
0[ds]15. In the present case irrespective of the question whether the abandonment of visitation rights by the wife was occasioned by the fraud or deceit practiced on her, as subsequently claimed, an attempt was made by this Court, even by means of a personal interaction with the children, to bring the issue with regard to custody and visitation rights to a satisfactory conclusion. From the materials on record, it is possible to conclude that the children, one of whom is on the verge of attaining majority, do not want to go with their mother. Both appear to be happy in the company of their father who also appears to be in a position to look after them; provide them with adequate educational facilities and also to maintain them in a proper and congenial manner. The children having expressed their reluctance to go with the mother, even for a short duration of time, we are left with no option but to hold that any visitation right to the mother would be adverse to the interest of the children. Besides, in view of the reluctance of the children to even meet their mother, leave alone spending time with her, we do not see how such an arrangement, i.e., visitation can be made possible by an order of the court