Amarjeet Singh v. Baljeet Kaur and Others

o FAO-1660-2019o(O&M) 1

o o ooooINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo o o o ooooooooooooooAToCHANDIGARHo o o o221o o o o o o o FAO-1660-2019o(O&M)o o o o o o o ooooooooooDecidedoon:17.05.2023o o AmarjeetoSingho o o o o o o ooo…Appellanto Versuso BaljeetoKauroandootherso o o o o oo o...Respondentso CORAM:o HON'BLEoMRS.oJUSTICEoLISAoGILLo o o HON'BLEoMRS.oJUSTICEoRITUoTAGOREo o o Present:oo Mr.oG.oS.oNahel,oAdvocateoo o o forotheoappellant.oo o o o o oooooo****o RITUoTAGORE,oJ.oo o

1.oo o Appellant-petitioner,otheofather,ohasochallengedojudgmentodatedo

23.10.2018o passedo byo learnedo Districto Judgeo Familyo Court,o Mogao (hereinafteroreferredotooasotheo'GuardianoCourt'),owherebyopetitionofiledobyo himo undero Sectiono 25o ofo Guardiano ando Wardso Act,o 1890o (hereinaftero referredotoo'theoAct')oseekingocustodyoofohisominorodaughtero'RK'ohasobeeno dismissed.oInstead,otheoCourtograntedohimomonthlyovisitationorightsoofooneo hour,otoobeoexercisedowithinotheoschoolopremises.o

2.oo o Relevantofactsorequiredoforoadjudicationoareoasohereunder-o oo Theoappellant-petitionero(husband)oandorespondentoNo.1o(wife)o enteredointoomatrimonyoono16.12.2012ofollowingoSikhoritesoandocustoms.o Theo marriageo waso consummatedo ando theyo wereo blessedo witho ao daughtero referredotooaso'RK'obornoono26.11.2013.oHowever,omatrimonialodisputeoaroseo betweenotheoparties,oleadingorespondentoNo.1otooleaveotheosocietyoofotheo o FAO-1660-2019o(O&M) 2

appellant-petitioneroandotakeouporesidenceoatoheroparentalohomeoatovillageo Rama,oDistrictoMoga.o

3.oo o Accordingotootheoappellant-petitioner,oheotriedohisobestotoobringo backo respondento No.1o too hiso conjugalo fold.o However,o sheo intentionallyo refusedotoojoinohisosocietyoandodesertedohimowithoutoanyoreasonableocause.o Withotheointerventionooforespectableoindividuals,otheomatrimonialodisputeo wasoresolvedothroughoaocompromiseoreachedobetweenotheoparties.oAccordingo tootheotermsoofocompromiseoreachedobetweenotheoparties,oitowasosettledothato appellant-petitionero wouldo retaino theo custodyo ofo theo minoro childo ando respondento No.1o receivedo ao sumo ofo Rs.14,40,000/-o towardso permanento alimonyoetc.oBothotheopartiesofiledoaojointopetitionounderoSectiono13-Boofo Hinduo Marriageo Act,o 1955o ando ino theo jointo statemento ono firsto motiono recordedoono08.10.2015,orespondentoNo.1oconfirmedoandoacknowledgedotheo factoofohandingooverotheocustodyoofotheochildotooappellant-petitioneroatotheo timeooforecordingotheostatementoonosecondomotion.o

4.oo o Subsequently,oitoisoallegedothatorespondentoNo.o1ochangedohero stando ando raisedo disputeo regardingo theo custodyo ofo theo child.o Too prevento furtherolegalocomplicationsoandotooresolveotheoconflictoandotoofacilitateotheiro divorceoproceedings;oadditionally,oconsideringotheofactothatochildowasoveryo smalloandostillobeingobreastfedobyotheomother,owithotheointerventionoofotheo eldersoandofamilyomembers,oappellant-petitioneroagreedotootemporarilyohando overocustodyoofotheochildotoorespondentoNo.1oasoanointerimomeasure.oTheo arrangemento waso basedo ono ao verbalo understandingo betweeno himo ando respondentoNo.1,owithotheounderstandingothatorespondentoNo.1owouldoreturno custodyoofotheominorochildotooappellant-petitioneroafteroaoyearoandoaohalf.o Moreover,orespondentoNo.1oalsooassuredothatosheowouldoprovideotheominoro childo witho besto care,o facilitieso ando nurturingo environment.o Trustingo o FAO-1660-2019o(O&M) 3

respondentoNo.1'socommitment,oappellant-petitionerohandedotheochildotootheo respondentoNo.1.oStatementsoofotheopartiesoatosecondomotionowereorecordedo accordinglyoandodecreeoofodivorceowasograntedounderoSectiono13-BoofoHinduo MarriageoAct,o1955odissolvingotheomarriageoofotheoparties.o

5.oo o Appellant-petitionero pleadedo thato respondento No.1o failedo too honouroherooralocommitmentoandodidonotohandooverocustodyoofominorochildo asopromised.oInstead,osheohandedooverocustodyoofotheochildotoorespondentso No.2oando3,oheroparents.oRespondentoNo.1oisoworkingoasoaostaffonurseoato Mohali.oSheoisoallegedotoohaveoneglectedotheochild,owhooisolivingoawayofromo theo careo ando custodyo ofo theo mother-respondento No.1.o Ito iso allegedo thato parentso ofo respondento No.1o haveo enrolledo theo childo ino ao smallo ando sub-standardoschool,oandorespondentoNo.1ohasonotoprovidedoaogoodostandardoofo livingotootheochild.oTheoappellant-petitioner,oclaimingotoobeotheobiologicalo fatheroofotheominorochild,oassertedostrongointerestoinotheowelfareoofotheochild.o Furtheropleadedothatoheohasoimmenseoloveoandoaffectionoforotheochildoandoforo thatoreasonohasorefrainedofromoenteringointooaosecondomarriage.oFurthermore,o theoappellant-opetitioneroclaimedothatoheohasoallowherewithalotooprovideobesto educationo andoothero facilitieso foro theooverallo growtho andoprogressoofo theo child,oasosuchofutureoofotheochildowouldobeobrighteroandomoreosecureoinohiso custodyoasocomparedotoothatoofotheorespondents.oOnotheoaboveopremise,oitoiso pleadedothatocustodyoofotheochildobeohandedooverotoohim.oTheoappellant-petitioneroalsoomaintainedothatohisoearlieropetitionoforocustodyoofotheochildo waso dismissedo ono theo groundo ofo lacko ofo territorialo jurisdictiono witho theo concernedoCourt.o

6.oo o Respondents,oononoticeofiledotheoresponseoandopleadedothatotheo appellant-petitionerohasoconcealedomaterialofactsofromotheoCourtoandodueotoo immoralo conducto ofo theo appellant-petitioner;o ledo too dissolutiono ofo theo o FAO-1660-2019o(O&M) 4

marriageo betweeno appellant-petitionero ando respondento No.1o aso sucho heo cannotobeogivenocustodyoofotheochild.oRespondentoNo.o1oisoaostaffonurseoando haso goodo sourceo ofo incomeo too maintaino theo child,o whereaso appellant-petitionerolacksofinancialocapabilityotoorearotheochildoandohasoneveroeveno maintainedotheochildoandorespondentoNo.1oduringotheoperiodotheyoremainedo together.oItoisopleadedothatoappellant-petitionerovoluntarilyorelinquishedotheo custodyoofotheochildoandosufferedoaostatementoinosaidoregardobeforeolearnedo Districto Judge,o Sangruro ono 04.05.2016o ando entrustedo theo custodyo ando responsibilityoofotheochildotoorespondentoNo.o1oandoevenodeclinedotooprovideo maintenanceo too minoro childo ino futureo ando anyo shareo ino hiso property.o RespondentoNo.1ofurtheroassertedothatosheowasokeptouninformedoaboutotheo custodyoofotheochildoandowasoledotoobelieveothatosisteroofotheopetitionerowouldo adoptotheochild.oHowever,osheolateroonodiscoveredothatoappellant-petitionero wasoattemptingotoosellotheochildotooherosister.oAsoaoresult,oafteroherofirsto statementorecordedoinoaopetitionounderoSectiono13-BoofoHinduoMarriageoAct,o 1955,osheorefusedotoohandooverocustodyoofochild.oSubsequently,omatterowaso againoresolvedoandoappellant-petitionerovoluntarilyohandedooverocustodyoofo childotoorespondentoNo.1.oStatementsoofobothotheopartiesoinosaidoregardowereo recorded,o ando decreeo waso passed,o accordingly.o Respondentso deniedo theo avermentsoraisedobyotheoappellant-opetitioneroregardingoonlyointerimocustodyo ofotheominorochildobeingogivenoatotheotimeooforecordingoofostatementsoato secondomotion.oItoisoassertedothatotheoappellant-husbandowasonotoentitledotoo backooutofromotheotermsoandoconditionsoasofinallyosettled.oo

7.oo o RespondentoNo.1ofurtheroassertedothatosheoisolookingoafterotheo minoro childo witho theo helpo ofo respondentso No.2o ando 3-parentso ando iso providingobestoofoeducationoandoallonecessaryofacilitiesotootheochildotooensureo herooptimaloupbringing.oItoisoclaimedothatofutureoofotheochildoisosecureoundero o FAO-1660-2019o(O&M) 5

herovigilantocareoandocustody.oOnotheoaboveobroadoassertions,orespondentso prayedoforodismissaloofotheopetition.o

8.oo o Ono theo basiso ofo theo pleadings,o theo learnedo Guardiano Judgeo formulatedotheofollowingoissues:-o "1.Whetheropetitioneroisoentitledotoocustodyoofominorochildo'RK'o(DOBo

26.11.2013)?OPPo 2oWhetheropetitionerohasonotocomeotooCourtowithocleanohands,oifoso,oitso effect?OPRo 3oWhetheropetitionoisonotomaintainable?OPRoo o o o 4oRelief."o

9.oo o Theopartiesowereocalledotooleadotheirorespectiveoevidence.oToo substantiateohisopetition,oappellant-petitioneroAmarjeetoSinghoappearedoaso PW-1oandoreiteratedotheoversionoofohisopetition.oTooprovideoaidotoohisooralo account,oappellant-petitioneroexaminedoBalviroSinghosonoofoGurdialoSinghoaso PW-2oandoBalbiroSinghosonoofoRooroSinghoasoPW-4.oBothotheowitnesseso assertedo thato welfareo ofo theo minoro iso bettero servedo undero theo custodyo ofo appellant-petitionerothanowithotheorespondentoNo.1,owhoolacksoanyoconcerno orocommitmentotowardsotheowelfareoandobestointerestoofotheochild.oAppellant-petitionero alsoo examinedo Rituo Bala,o Senioro Lawo Officer,o Maxo Superspeciallityo Hospital,o Mohalio aso PW-3o whoo providedo evidenceo confirmingo theo employmento ofo respondento No.1o aso staffo nurseo ino Maxo Hospital,o Mohali.o Aparto fromo theo oralo account,o appellant-petitionero alsoo placedo ono recordo theo documentaryo evidenceo i.e.o ordero datedo 18.08.2017o passedobyolearnedoDistrictoJudge,oSangruro(Ex.P-1);ojudgmentoandodecreeo datedo04.05.2016o(Ex.P-2o andoP-3orespectively),o statementoofo respondento No.o1orecordedoono08.10.2015oando04.05.2016oinoaopetitionounderoSectiono 13-BoofoHinduoMarriageoAct,o1955oasoEx.oP-4oandoP-5orespectively.o o FAO-1660-2019o(O&M) 6

10.oo o Too controverto theo above,o respondento No.1-Baljito Kauro appearedoasoRW-1oandosubstantiatedotheoversionogivenobyoheroinoheroreplyobyo rebuttingotheostandoofotheoappellant-petitioner.oToosupportoherooraloaccount,o sheotenderedocertifiedocopyoofotheostatementoofoappellant-petitionerodatedo

04.05.2016o (Ex.R-4);o copieso ofo hero banko statementso (Ex.R-1o ando R-3);o photocopyooforeceiptsoofoschoolofeeoofotheominorochildo(Mark-DotooMark-P).o

11.oo o Guardiano Judgeo consolidatedo issueso No.1otoo 3o aso theyowereo interconnectedo ando ono appraisalo ofo theo evidenceo ando byo makingo ao comparativeoanalysisoofotheoprevailingocircumstancesobetweenotheoparties,o concludedothatowelfareoofominorodaughteroisobestoservedobyoallowingotheo childotoobeoinotheocareoandocustodyoofotheomother-respondentoNo.1,owhoohaso beeno providingo theo childo witho allo necessaryo amenitieso includingo goodo education,obesidesoguidingotheominorochildotootheobestoofoherocapabilityoando capacity.oAdditionally,otheochildowasoalsooreceivingoexcellentosupportoando mentorshipoofoheromaternalograndparentso(respondentsoNo.2oando3).oOnotheo otherohand,oGuardianoJudgeoobservedothatodespiteoassertingoaolifeoofocelibacyo ando dedicatingo himselfo entirelyo foro theo welfareo ofo theo child,o appellant-petitionerohadoremarriedoandoevenofailedotooprovideoanyofinancialosupporto andoassistanceotootheochild.oHeoalsoofailedotoosubstantiateohisopleaooforeachingo anounderstandingowithorespondentoNo.1oregardingotheointerimocustodyoofotheo minorochild.oAsoaoresult,oGuardianoJudgeodisallowedotheopleaoofoappellant-petitioneroforograntoofotheocustodyoofotheominorochildoasoitowasonotodeemedo conduciveoforotheowelfareoofotheochild.oHowever,ograntedomeeting/visitationo rightsoonomonthlyobasis,oenablingohimotoomaintainoandonurtureofilialobond.o

12.oo o Beingo aggrievedo witho theo aforesaido order/judgmento datedo

23.10.2018,oappellant-opetitionerohasofiledotheoinstantoappeal.oo o FAO-1660-2019o(O&M) 7

13.oo o Learnedocounseloforotheoappellantourgesothatothereowasoanooralo understandingobetweenotheopartiesothatominorochildowasotooremainoinotheo interimocareoandocustodyooforespondentoNo.1-motheroforoanotherooneoandoao halfoyearountilotheochildogrowsoolder.oAfterothatoperiod,ocustodyoofotheominoro childowasosupposedotoobeotransferredotooappellant-father.oLearnedocounselo statesothatotheoaforesaidomaterialofactsohaveoreceivedosupportofromotheooralo accounto ofo theo appellant-petitionero ando hiso witnesseso thato remainedo unrebuttedo ono record.o Additionally,o theo statemento ofo respondento No.1o recordedoono08.10.2015o(AnnexureoA-1/Ex.P-4)oatotheofirstomotionorecordedo inoaopetitionounderoSectiono13-BoofoHinduoMarriageoAct,o1955oconfirmsotheo saidoagreement.oInothatostatement,orespondentoNo.o1oexplicitlyogotorecordedo thatosheohadonooobjectionoifotheochildowasogivenoinoadoptionotootheosisteroofo theoappellant-petitioner.o

14.o o oLearnedocounselosubmitsothatosubsequentlyorespondentoNo.1o renegedofromoheroundertakingoandocausedoaodisputeotooarise.oInoanoeffortotoo resolveoandosettleotheomatrimonialodisputeobetweenotheopartiesoandotooprevento furthero litigation,o theo interimo custodyo ofo theo childo waso giveno too theo respondentoNo.1,owithoassuranceothatosheowouldoensureotheowellobeingoofotheo minorochildoinoalloaspectsoduringotemporaryocustodyowithoheroforoaoperiodoofo oneoandohalfoyear.oLearnedocounselosubmitsothatorespondentoNo.1ofailedotoo fulfiloheropromise;oinstead,osheoentrustedotheocustodyoofotheominorotoohero elderlyoparents.o

15.oo o Learnedo counselo foro theo appellant-petitionero contendso thato evidenceoclearlyoshowsothatorespondentoNo.1oisonotolivingowithotheochildoando hasofailedotooenrollotheochildoinoaogoodoschool.oTheowelfareoofotheominoro childohasobeenocompletelyooverlookedoandoneglectedobyotheorespondents.o Learnedocounselostatesothatotheoappellant-petitioneroisotheofatheroofotheochildo o FAO-1660-2019o(O&M) 8

andopossessesodeepolove,ocareoandoconcernoforotheochild.oTheobestointeresto andowelfareoofotheochildoliesowithotheoappellant-father,owhoohasocategoricallyo deposedothatoheocannotoimagineoaolifeowithoutohisochildoandowantsotoospendo hisoentireolifeowithotheochildoforotheowellobeingoofotheochild.oFurthermore,otheo appellant-petitioneroisocapableoofoprovidingoallotheonecessaryoamenitiesoofo lifeoandoensuringoeducationoofotheochildoasowell.o

16.oo o Learnedo counselo submitso thato theo learnedo Guardiano Judge,o whileo decidingo theo custodyo issue,o failedo too adequatelyo considero allo theseo materialofactsoandocircumstancesoinotheolightoofofundamentaloprinciplesoofo prioritizingoandopromotingotheowelfareoandobestointerestoofotheochild.oLearnedo counselo contendso thato theo findingso ofo theoGuardiano Judgeo observingo thato respondentsoareomoreosuitableoforotheowelfareoofotheominor,oareoaoresultoofo misinterpretationoofotheoevidence,obasedoonoconjecturesoandosurmisesoando lackingoanyosubstantialobasisoorologicaloconclusion.oAccordingly,oaoprayeroiso madeotoosetoasideotheofindings.o

17.oo o Weohaveoheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheoappellant-petitionero andohaveogoneothroughotheopaperobookoandophotocopyoofotheorecordosuppliedo byolearnedocounseloduringotheocourseoofohearing.oo

18.oo o Ito iso ano admittedo positiono thato appellant-petitionero ando respondento No.1,o haveo ao daughtero 'RK'o borno ono 26.11.2013o duringo theiro marriageoandoisocurrentlyotenoyearsoold.oTheochildoresidesowithoheromother-respondentoNo.1oandoheromaternalograndparents,orespondentsoNo.2oando3.oIto isoalsooundisputedothatodueotoomatrimonialodiscordobetweenotheoparties,otheyo partedotheirowaysoandoobtainedoaodecreeoofodivorceobyomutualoconsentodatedo

04.05.2016o(AnnexureoA-3/Ex.oP-2)ounderoSectiono13-BoofoHinduoMarriageo Act,o1955.o o FAO-1660-2019o(O&M) 9

19.oo o Perusalo ofo theo judgmento ando decreeo datedo 04.05.2016o (AnnexureoA-3/Ex.oP-2oandoP-3)odatedo04.05.2016orenderedounderoSectiono 13-BoofoHinduoatoMarriageoAct,o1955oshowsothatoduringotheorecordingoofotheo statementoatofirstomotion,orespondentoNo.1-motherohadoinitiallyoagreedotoo relinquishotheocustodyoofotheochildotooappellant-fatheroandoevenoconsentedotoo theo adoptiono ofo theo childo byo hero sister-in-law.o However,o ato theo timeo ofo recordingoofotheosecondomotionostatement,oitowasomutuallyoagreedobetweeno theopartiesothatocustodyoofotheochildowouldoremainowithorespondentoNo.1-mother.oAdditionally,obothotheoparties,oinopresenceoofoDistrictoJudge,oSangruro affirmedothatotheyohaveoamicablyoresolvedoallotheirodisputesoandorecordedo theirostatementsovoluntarilyoandowithofreeoconsent.oAccordingly,ojudgmento datedo04.05.2016o(AnnexureoA-3/Ex.P-2)owasopassed.oo

20.oo o Duringocourseoofoargumentsoinotheoappeal,olearnedocounseloforo theoappellant-petitioneroinformsothatojudgmentoandodecreeodatedo04.05.2016o hasonotobeenochallengedobyoeitheroofotheopartiesoincludingotheoappellant-petitioner.o Therefore,o judgmento ando decreeo dated04.05.2016o haso clearlyo attainedofinality.oAppellant-petitionerofiledotheopetitionounderoGuardianoando Wardso Acto ono 30.08.2017,o seekingo custodyo ofo theo childo ono theo aforementionedo groundso aso discussed,o approximatelyo oneo yearo aftero theo decreeowasopassedounderoSectiono13-BoofoHinduoMarriageoAct,o1955oono

04.05.2016.oo

21.oo o Itoisoaosettledoprincipleoofolawothatoanyoissueoinvolvingoaominoro mustobeoexaminedoandoresolvedosolelyofromotheoperspectiveoofowelfareoando bestointerestsoofotheominor.oInodealingowithomattersoconcerningoaominor,otheo Courtocarriesoaospecialoresponsibilityoandoobligationotooevaluateotheoquestiono ofocustody,oguidedosolelyobyotheoparamountoconcernoofowelfareoofotheominor.o Theoquestionoregardingocustodyoofotheominorocannotobeodecidedomerelyoono o FAO-1660-2019o(O&M) 10

theo basiso ofo legalo rightso ofo theo parties.o Ito haso too beo decidedo ono theo predominantocriterionoofowhatowouldobestoserveotheointerestoandowelfareoofo theominor.oInothisoregard,ogainfuloreferenceocanobeomadeotootheoobservationso madeo byo Hon'bleo theo Supremeo Courto inoChandrakalao Menono Vs.o Capt.o VipinoMenon,o1993(2)oSCCo6.o

22.oo o Ino selectingo ao Guardian,o theo Courto exerciseso parenso patriaeo jurisdictionoandoisoexpectedotoogiveodueoweightotoochild'soordinaryocomfort,o contentment,o health,o education,o intellectualo developmento ando favourableo surroundingsoaboveoallophysicalocomfort,omoraloandoethicalovaluesocannotobeo ignoredo ando theyo areo equallyo important,o essentialo ando indispensableo considerations.o Theo desireo ofo theo childo coupledo witho availabilityo ofo ao conduciveoandoappropriateoenvironmentoforoproperoupbringingotogetherowitho theoabilityoandomeansoofotheoconcernedoparentotootakeocareoofotheochildoareo fewoofotheorelevantofactorsothatohaveotoobeotakenointooaccountowhileoresolvingo theoissueoofocustodyoofominor.oItoisocrucialotooadhereotooandofullyoembraceotheo doctrineoofo'bestointerest'oofotheochildoinoletteroandospiritowhenoresolvingotheo custodyobattles.oInoRosyoJacoboVs.oJacoboA.oChakramakkal,o(1973)1oSCCo 840oHon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoobservedothatotheoobjectoandopurposeoofo GuardianoandoWardsoActo1890oisonotomereoadjudicationoofophysicalocustodyo ofotheominorobutodueoprotectionoofotheorightsoofoward'sohealth,omaintenanceo andoeducation.oPoweroandodutyoofotheoCourtounderotheoActoisotoobeoexercisedo forowelfareoofotheominor.o

23.oo o Uponoconductingoaocomprehensiveocomparativeoanalysisoofotheo pleadingsoandoevidenceoofotheoparties,owhileoconsideringotheoprevailingofactso andocircumstancesoamongstotheopartiesoasowelloasoguidingoprinciplesoofolaw,o particularlyotheopredominantodoctrineoofo'bestointerestoofotheochild',oweohaveo arrivedoatotheoconclusionothatoGuardianoJudgeocommittedonooillegalityoino o FAO-1660-2019o(O&M) 11

passingo theo impugnedo order/judgmento datedo 23.10.2018.o Ino fact,o aftero carefuloexaminationoofoactualomatrix,oweofirmlyobelieveothatoretainingotheo custodyoofotheochildoRKowithorespondentoNo.o1-motheroisoinotheobestointeresto andowelfareoofotheominorochild,oforotheoreasonsooutlinedobelow.o

24.oo o Firstly,otheoappellant-petitioneroledonoosubstantiveoandoreliableo evidenceotoosupportohisopleaothatoanyooralounderstandingohadobeenoarrivedoato betweenotheopartiesoregardingointerimocustodyoofotheochildoremainingowitho respondentoNo.1-motheroforoaboutooneoandoaohalfoyearoandosubsequentlyo custodyo beingo giveno too theo appellant-petitioner.o Perusalo ofo hiso statemento (Annexureo A-2/Ex.R-4)orecordedoono 04.05.2016o clearlyo indicateso thato heo agreedo too unconditionallyo hando overo custodyo ofo theo minoro daughtero too respondentoNo.1-mother,oBaljitoKaur,oandoentrustedoherowithotheoresponsibleo fororaisingotheochild.oHeoalsoorelinquishedohisoclaimoforocustodyoofotheochildo ando alsoo debarredo theo mothero ando childo fromo raisingo anyo claimso ono hiso property.oInohisostatement,oheoexplicitlyorecordedothatonoodisputeoremainedo betweeno theo partieso ando alsoo undertooko too abideo byo hiso statement.o Theo statementooforespondentoNo.o1-motherowasorecordedoseparatelyowhereinosheo acknowledgedohavingoreceivedoRs.7,20,000/-ofromotheoappellant-petitionero towardsoherosheoalimony,omaintenanceoetc.oandosheoacceptedotheocustodyoando responsibilityoofoupbringingoofotheominorochild.oSheoalsooundertookonototoo claimoanyoshareoinotheopropertyoofoappellant-petitioner,oandoheo(appellant-petitioner)oagreedonototooclaimoandoseekocustodyoofotheominorochild.oBasedo onosaidostatementsoofotheoparties,ojudgmentoandodecreeodatedo04.05.2016,o (AnnexureoA-3/Ex.P-2o&oEx.P-3)owasopassed,ospecificallyomentioningothato theominorochildowouldoremainoinocustodyoofotheorespondentoNo.1-motheroaso o FAO-1660-2019o(O&M) 12

25.oo o Ino theo presento case,o theo partieso reachedo ano agreemento concerningo theo custodyo ofo theiro minoro child,o aso iso evidento fromo theiro statementsorecordedoonotheofirstoandofinalomotionsoinotheopetitionofiledoundero Sectiono 13-Bo ofo Hinduo Marriageo Act,o 1955.o Fromo theo statementso ofo theo parties,o ito appearso thato respondento No.1-mothero initiallyo agreedo too giveo custodyoofotheochildotootheoappellant-petitioner,ohowever,olateroon,otheopartieso reachedoaoresolutionowhereorespondentoNo.o1-motherowouldoretainocustodyo ofotheominor.oStatementsorecordedobyotheopartiesoatosecondomotionoinotheo petitionounderoSectiono13-BoHinduoMarriageoAct,o1955,odoonotoindicateothato custodyo giveno too theo mothero waso interimo custody,o aso claimedo byo theo appellant-petitioner.o Excepto theo oralo accounto ofo theo appellant-petitioner,o thereoisonoootheroevidenceotoosubstantiateotheoclaimoofoonlyointerimocustodyo beingograntedotootheorespondentoNo.1.oStatementoofoBaljitoSingho(PW-4)o doesonotohelpotheoappellant-petitioner,oasoPW-4owasounableotooprovideoanyo informationo abouto theo familyo affairso ofo theo respondento No.o 1o ando theo measuresotakenobyoheroandoheroparentsoinoraisingotheominor.oSoohisostatemento isoinsignificantoinorelationotootheoallegationoofotheoappellant-petitionerothato respondentsoareonototakingoproperocareoofotheochild.oo

26.oo o Similarly,o statemento ofo Balviro Singho (PW-2)o doeso noto contributeo anythingo too theo caseo ofo theo appellant-petitioner.o Balviro Singho (PW-2)o ino hiso cross-examinationo admittedo thato appellant-petitionero iso unemployed,owhileorespondentoNo.1oisoemployedoasoaostaffonurse.oHeoalsoo admittedothatoappellant-opetitionerohasoremarried.oHeocouldonotodenyothatotheo minoro childo iso beingo raisedo byo theo respondents.o Significantly,o appellant-petitioneroinohisocross-examinationoadmittedothatoheoisounemployedoandohaso remarriedoafterodissolutionoofohisomarriageowithorespondentoNo.1.oHeoalsoo admittedothatorespondentoNo.1oisoaostaffonurseoworkingoatoMaxoHospital,o o FAO-1660-2019o(O&M) 13

Mohali.oHeohasoacknowledgedotheocontentsoofohisostatementorecordedoonotheo secondomotionoinoitsoentirety,owhichoclearlyostatesothatocustodyoofotheochildo wasotooremainowithoheromother.oHeoadmittedothatonoowritingowasopreparedo regardingogivingointerimocustodyotootheorespondentoNo.1-mother.oThus,othereo isonooconvincingoevidenceoorocircumstancesotoosupportotheoclaimoofoanooralo understandingo thato theo childo wouldo remaino ino interimo custodyo ofo theo respondentoNo.1-motheroandothenobeohandedooverotootheoappellant-petitioner,o theofather,oasoraisedobyohim.oo

27.oo o Addressingotheosecondolimboofoargumentoraisedoonobehalfoofo appellant-petitioner,oitoisoassertedothatorespondentsoareoneglectingotheochildo andohaveonotoenrolledoheroinoaogoodoandoreputedoschool.oItohasobeenorecordedo byo theo Guardiano Judgeo thato theo childo iso studyingo ino Gillcoo Internationalo School,o Sectoro 127,o Gillcoo Valley,o Mohali.o Ino fact,o duringo crosso examination,o appellant-petitionero haso admittedo thato childo waso previouslyo studyingo ino Royalo Convento School,o villageo Dhurkoto Nihalo Singho Wala.o Thereoisonooevidenceoonorecordothatotheoschooloinowhichotheochildoisostudyingo iso sub-standardo oro noto uptoo theo marko ao pero statuso ofo theo appellant.o Theo appellant-petitionerohasofailedotoopresentoanyoevidenceotoosuggestothatochild'so physical,omentalooropsychologicalogrowthoorodevelopmentoisolackingoinoanyo way.oFurthermore,onooevidenceohasobeenobroughtobyotheoappellant-fatheroono record,osuchoasotestimoniesofromotheoschooloauthorities,otooshowothatotheo childo waso noto performingo wello ato schoolo oro iso havingo someo socialo oro behavioraloproblemodueoatotooanyodeficiencyoinoheroupbringing.oThisoclearlyo demonstratesothatotheorespondentsoareoactivelyoensuringogoodoandoholistico growthoofotheochild.oo

28.oo o Appellant-petitionero haso pleadedo thato heo haso noto remarriedo solelyoforotheosakeoofotheochildoandoheodeeplyolovesoandocaresoforotheochild,o o FAO-1660-2019o(O&M) 14

andocannotoimagineohisolifeowithoutotheochildoandothatoheoisofullyocommittedo tooprovideotheobestocareoandoeducationoforotheochild.oHowever,otheoappellant-petitionero failedo too substantiateo theo aforesaido pleas.o Ino fact,o heo admittedo solemnizingo ao secondo marriage.o Hiso witnesseso haveo alsoo statedo so.o Theo appellant-petitionero educatedo uptoo 10+2,o admittedo too beingo unemployed,o whileotheorespondentoNo.o1-motheroisoworkingoasoaonurse.oHeoalsooadmittedo thatoinohisostatementoatosecondomotion,oitowasorecordedothatochildowouldonoto claimoanyomaintenanceooroshareofromohisoproperty.oTheoaforesaidomaterialo factsohaveoratherofalsifiedohisotalloclaimsoofobeingoconcernedoforotheowelfareo ofo theo childo throughouto hiso life.o Rather,o theo evidenceo showso thato heo iso unwillingotoocontributeofinanciallyoforotheowelfareoofotheochild.oMoreover,o hiso avermento thato heo handedo overo theo custodyo ofo theo childo too expediteo divorceoproceedingobyoitselfoexhibitsohisoselfointerestoratherothanogenuineo concernoforotheochild.o

29.oo o Overalloanalysisoofotheoevidenceodemonstratesothatowelfareoando bestointerestoofotheominorochildolieowithoherocustodyobeingowithorespondento No.1-motheroandorespondentsoNo.2oando3o(maternalograndparents),owhooareo impartingovaluableolifeoexperiencesoandoinstillingogoodovaluesotootheochildo foroheroholisticogrowth.oFurtheroitoisoimportantoforotheominorodaughterotoo haveo hero mother'so guidanceo ando supporto ino navigatingo anyo specifico challengesothatomayoariseoinoherolife.oItoisotoobeonotedothatorespondentoNo.1o hasoclearlyoexplainedothatotheochildotillo17.11.2017owasoatoRoyaloConvento School,ovillageoDhurkotoNihaloSinghoWalaobutothereafterowasostudyingoato Gillcoo Internationalo School,o Sectoro 127,o Gilcoo Valley,o Mohalio ando waso beingolookedoafteroandocaredoforobyorespondentoNo.1oandoheroparents.oTheo childohavingosuccessfullyoadjustedotooherocurrentolivingoarrangements,oschoolo andosurroundingoenvironmentoandocompanyoofoheropeersoandofriends,oitoisonoto o FAO-1660-2019o(O&M) 15

advisableotoodisruptoherosettledoandocomfortableoenvironmentoatothisostageoaso ito couldo haveo adverseo psychologicalo ando emotionalo effectso ono theo child,o whichowouldonotocontributeotooherowelfareooropromoteoherobestointerest.oo o

30.oo o Keepingoinoviewotheofactsoandocircumstancesoasoabove,oinoouro consideredoopinionolearnedoGuardianoCourtohasocorrectlyoupheldotheocustodyo ofo theo minoro too beo retainedo byo respondento No.1-mothero whileo grantingo visitationorightsotooappellant-petitioner.oo

31.oo o Perodiscussion,ofindingsorecordedoandodirectionogivenobyotheo GuardianoJudgeoareowellomeritedoinogivenofactualosituationoandobasedoono evidence,owhichocallsoforonoointerference.oFindingsoonoissuesoNo.1otoo3oareo thusoaffirmed.oo

32.oo o Noootheroargumentohasobeenoraised.o

33.oo o Appealoisoaccordingly,odismissedowithonooorderoasotoocost.oo o 34oo o Pendingomiscellaneousoapplications,oinoany,ostandsodisposedoof.o o o o o oooo(LISAoGILL)o o o (RITUoTAGORE)ooo o o ooooooooJUDGEo o oooooooooooooooooJUDGEo o o o o o o o o o Mayo17,o2023o Rimpalo o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo o :o Yes/Noo o o Whetheroreportableo o o :o Yes/Noo