Veerpal Kaur v. State of Punjab and Others

o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 1o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o CRWP-6232-2025o Dateoofodecision:o27.08.2025o o VeerpaloKauroo ….Petitionero versuso StateoofoPunjaboandootherso ….Respondentso o CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo o Present:-o Mr.oChetanoGoyal,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.o o o Mr.oGurpartapoSinghoBhullar,oAAGoPunjab.oo o o Mr.oSiddharthoGupta,oAdvocateofororespondentoNo.4.oo *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.oo o o o Theo petitiono ino hando filedo undero Articleso 226/227o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo India,o ino essence,o iso aimedo ato directingo respondento No.4o (fatheroofotheochildoinoquestion)otoohandooverotheocustodyoofoaominorochildo agedoabouto04oyearsotootheopetitionero(motheroofotheochildoinoquestion).oo

2.o o Shornoofonon-essentialodetails,otheorelevantofactualomatrixoofotheo lisoinohandoisoadumbrated,othus:oo

(i)o o Theopetitioner-motheroandorespondentoNo.4-fatherowereomarriedo ono05.11.2019oinoaccordanceowithoSikhoritesoandorituals.oOneo maleochildo (hereinafteroreferredotooaso'childoinoquestion')owasobornoono26.08.2021oandoiso currentlyoagedoabouto04oyears.oo

(ii)o o RespondentoNo.4-fatherohadofiledoaopetitionounderoSectiono13oofo theo Hinduo Marriageo Act,o 1955o (hereinaftero referredo too aso 'HMA')o foro

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 2o o dissolutionoofomarriageobetweenohimoandotheopetitioner-mother,oinoJanuaryo 2024,owherein,otheopetitioner-mothero(herein)ohadofiledoanoapplicationoforo visitationo rights.o However,o theo maino petitiono foro granto ofo divorceo waso withdrawnoono21.05.2024obyorespondentoNo.4-father.oo

(iii)o o Theopetitioner-motheroisostatedotoohaveofiledoaopetitionounderotheo Protectiono ofo Womeno fromo Domestico Violenceo Act,o 2005o (hereinaftero referredo too aso 'DVo Act')o wherein,o ano applicationo preferredo byo her,o foro issuanceoofodirectionotoorespondentoNo.4-fathero(herein)otooallowoherotoomeeto theo childo ino questiono waso declinedo ono 11.02.2025.o Ito iso commono groundo betweeno theo counselo foro rivalo partieso thato theo saido ordero haso noto beeno challengedotillodate.oo

(iv)o o Theopetitioner-motherohasoalsooinstitutedoanoapplicationoundero Sectiono25oofotheoGuardiansoandoWardsoAct,o1890o(hereinafteroreferredotooaso 'GWo Act')o foro seekingo custodyo ofo theo childo ino questiono fromo respondento No.4-fathero(herein)oinoJanuaryo2025,owhichoisostillopendingoadjudication.oo

(v)o o Thiso Courto haso beeno accordinglyo petitioned,o byo wayo ofo theo petitionoinohand,oonotheopremiseothatotheopetitioner–motheroisoentitledotoohaveo custodyo ofo theo childo ino questiono ando respondento No.4–fathero iso ino illegal/wrongfulocustodyoofotheochildoinoquestion.oo RivaloSubmissionso

3.o o Learnedocounseloappearingoforotheopetitioner-motherohasoarguedo thatotheochildoinoquestionowasobornoono26.08.2021oandoisocurrentlyoagedoonlyo abouto04oyearsoand,otherefore,owelfareoofotheochildoinoquestionoasoalsootheo mandateoofolawonecessitatesothatocustodyoofotheochildoinoquestionoshouldobeo

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 3o o withotheopetitioner.oLearnedocounselohasourgedothatotheopetitioner-mother,oono accounto ofo illo treatmento ato theo handso ofo respondento No.4-fathero ando hiso familyomembers,owasoconstrainedotooleaveotheomatrimonialohomeoandotheo atmosphereo prevailingo ino theo houseo ofo respondento No.4o –o fathero iso noto congenialoforoupbringingoofominorochildoinoquestion.oLearnedocounselohaso iteratedothatorespondentoNo.4o–ofatheroisoindulgingoinoillicitorelationsowitho womenoandoisohabitualoofotakingodrugs/ointoxicants.oOnotheostrengthoofotheseo submissions,ograntoofopetitionoinohand,oisoentreatedofor.oo

4.o o Ao statuso reporto byo wayo ofo ano affidavito datedo 24.06.2025o ofo RupinderoKaur,oPPS,oDeputyoSuperintendentoofoPolice,oSubodivisionoDirbao onobehalfooforespondentsoNo.1otoo3ohasobeenofiled.oLearnedoStateocounselohaso raisedosubmissionsoinotandemowithotheosaidostatusoreport.oo o o However,okeepingoinoviewotheonatureoofolisoinohand,othisoCourto findsothat,oprimarily,oitoisocontestoforocustodyoofotheochildoinoquestionobetweeno theopetitioner-mothero&otheorespondentoNo.4o-ofatheroand,othus,otheoStateoofo Punjaboisonotoaocontestingoparty.oooo

5.o o Learnedo counselo appearingo ono behalfo ofo respondento No.4o –o fathero haso vehementlyo opposedo theo petitiono ino hando byo urgingo thato theo petitionero –o mothero iso guiltyo foro suppressiono ofo materialo factso fromo thiso Court.oHeohasoarguedothatotheopetitionero–omotherohasofiledoaopetitionoundero Sectiono25oofotheoGWoAct,obutohasodeliberatelyonotodivulgedotheosameoinotheo presentopetition.o Learnedo counselohaso furthero reliedo upono theo ordero datedo

11.02.2025opassedobyotheolearnedoJMIC,oSangruroinoDVoActoproceedings,o wherein,oprayeroforointerimovisitationorightsomadeobyotheopetitioner–mothero

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 4o o waso declined;o too substantiateo theo contentiono ofo theo petitioner-mothero noto havingo disclosedo trueo ando correcto factso ofo theo petitiono ino hand.o Learnedo counselohasofurtheroarguedothatowelfareoofotheochildoinoquestionodemandsothato hisocustodyoshouldocontinueowithorespondentoNo.4o–ofather.oItohasofurthero beenourgedothatotheopetitionoinohand,ofiledoinotheoshapeoofowritopetitionoofo HabeasoCorpus,oisonotomaintainable.oOnotheostrengthoofotheseosubmissions,o dismissaloofotheopetitionoinohandohasobeenocanvassedofor.oo

6.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo rivalo partieso ando haveo perusedotheoavailableorecord.oo PrimeoIssueoo

7.oo o Theo seminalo legalo issueo whicho ariseso foro ruminationo ino theo petitionoinohandoisotheorealmoofoexerciseoofojurisdictionoofotheoHighoCourtoinoao Habeaso Corpuso writo petitiono wheno thereo iso statutoryo alternativeo remedyo availableo ino theo formo ofo ao petitiono undero theo Hinduo Minorityo ando GuardianshipoAct,o1956/otheoGuardiansoandoWardsoAct,o1890.oo o o Theo analogueso issueo thato ariseso iso whethero theo petitionero –o motheroshouldobeoaffordedocustodyoofotheochildoinoquestionoinotheofactualo milieuoofotheopetitionoinohand.oo RelevantoStatuteoo

8.o o Articleo226oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiao(hereinafteroreferredotoo aso'Articleo226)oreadsothus:oo "226.o PoweroofoHighoCourtsotooissueocertainowritso–o(1)oNotwithstandingo anythingoinoarticleo32oeveryoHighoCourtoshallohaveopower,othroughoutotheo territoriesoinorelationotoowhichoitoexercisesojurisdiction,otooissueotooanyo persono oro authority,o includingo ino appropriateo cases,o anyo Government,o

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 5o o withinothoseoterritoriesodirections,oordersoorowrits,oincludingowritsoinotheo natureo ofo habeaso corpus,o mandamus,o prohibition,o quoo warrantoo ando certiorari,o oro anyo ofo them,o foro theo enforcemento ofo anyo ofo theo rightso conferredobyoPartoIIIoandoforoanyootheropurpose.o o (2)oo Theo powero conferredo byo clauseo (1)o too issueo directions,o ordersoorowritsotooanyoGovernmento authorityo oro persono mayo alsoo beo exercisedo byo anyo Higho Courto exercisingo jurisdictiono ino relationo too theo territoriesowithinowhichotheocauseoofoaction,owhollyooroinopart,oarisesoforo theo exerciseo ofo sucho power,o notwithstandingo thato theo seato ofo sucho Governmentooroauthorityoorotheoresidenceoofosuchopersonoisonotowithino thoseoterritories."o RelevantoCaseoLawo

9.o o Theoprecedent(s),oaproposotootheoissue(s)oinohandoare,othus:oo

(i)o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmentotitledoasoDr.oMrs.o VeenaoKapooroversusoVarinderoKumaroKapoor,o1982oAIRoSupremeoCourto 792;ohasoheldoasounder:o "3.o Itoisodifficultoforousoinothisohabeasocorpusopetitionotootakeoevidenceo withoutowhichotheoquestionoasotoowhatoisoinotheointerestoofotheochildocannoto satisfactorilyobeodetermined.oWe,otherefore,odirectothatotheolearnedoDistricto Judge,oChandigarh,owillomakeoaoreportotoousobeforeo23rdoofothisomonthoono theoquestionoasotoowhetherotheocustodyoofotheochildoshouldobeohandedoovero too theo petitioner-mother,o takingo intoo considerationo theo interesto ofo theo minor.o Theo learnedo Judgeo willo giveo libertyo too theo partieso too adduceo evidenceoonotheoquestionoinoissue.oTheolearnedoDistrictoJudgeomayoeithero takeoupotheomatterohimselfooroassignoitotooanoAdditionaloDistrictoJudge,oifo thereoisoanyoatoChandigarh."oo o

(ii)o o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino ao judgmento titledo aso Syedo SaleemuddinoversusoDr.oRukhsana,o2001(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o591;ohasoheldo asounder:o "9.o xxo xxo xxo

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 6o o Fromotheoprinciplesolaidodownoinotheoaforementionedocasesoitoisoclearothato inoanoapplicationoseekingoaowritoofoHabeasoCorpusoforocustodyoofominoro childrenotheoprincipaloconsiderationoforotheoCourtoisotooascertainowhethero theo custodyo ofo theo childreno cano beo saido too beo unlawfulo oro illegalo ando whetherotheowelfareoofotheochildrenorequiresothatopresentocustodyoshouldo beo changedo ando theo childreno shouldo beo lefto ino careo ando custodyo ofo somebodyoelse.oTheoprincipleoisowellosettledothatoinoaomatteroofocustodyoofoao childotheowelfareoofotheochildoisoofoparamountoconsiderationoofotheoCourt."o o

(iii)o o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino ao judgmento titledo aso Nithyao Anando Raghavano versuso Stateo ofo NCTo ofo Delhio &o Anr.,o 2017(3)o RCRo (Civil)o798;ohasoheldoasounder:o "28.oo Theo presento appealo emanateso fromo ao petitiono seekingo ao writo ofo habeasocorpusoforotheoproductionoandocustodyoofoaominorochild.oThisoCourto inoKanuoSanyalov.oDistrictoMagistrate,oDarjeelingo&oOrs.,o1974(4)oS.C.C.o 141,o haso heldo thato habeaso corpuso waso essentiallyo ao proceduralo writo dealingowithomachineryoofojustice.oTheoobjectounderlyingotheowritowasotoo secureotheoreleaseoofoaopersonowhooisoillegallyodeprivedoofohisoliberty.oTheo writo ofo habeaso corpuso iso ao commando addressedo too theo persono whoo iso allegedotoohaveoanotheroinounlawfulocustody,orequiringohimotooproduceotheo bodyoofosuchopersonobeforeotheoCourt.oOnoproductionoofotheopersonobeforeo theoCourt,otheocircumstancesoinowhichotheocustodyoofotheopersonoconcernedo hasobeenodetainedocanobeoinquiredointoobyotheoCourtoandouponodueoinquiryo intootheoallegedounlawfulorestraintopassoappropriateodirectionoasomayobeo deemedojustoandoproper.oTheoHighoCourtoinosuchoproceedingsoconductsoano inquiryoforoimmediateodeterminationoofotheorightoofotheoperson'sofreedomo andohisoreleaseowhenotheodetentionoisofoundotoobeounlawful.oInoaopetitiono foroissuanceoofoaowritoofohabeasocorpusoinorelationotootheocustodyoofoao minorochild,othisoCourtoinoSayedoSaleemuddinov.oDr.oRukhsanao&oOrs.,o 2001(2)oRCRo(Civil)o613:o2001(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o591o:o(2001)o5oSCCo 247,ohasoheldothatotheoprincipalodutyoofotheoCourtoisotooascertainowhethero theocustodyoofochildoisounlawfulooroillegaloandowhetherotheowelfareoofotheo childorequiresothatohisopresentocustodyoshouldobeochangedoandotheochildobeo handedooverotootheocareoandocustodyoofoanyootheroperson.oWhileodoingoso,o theoparamountoconsiderationomustobeoaboutotheowelfareoofotheochild.oInotheo

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 7o o caseoofoMrs.oElizabetho(supra),oitoisoheldothatoinosuchocasesotheomatteromusto beodecidedonotobyoreferenceotootheolegalorightsoofotheopartiesobutoonotheo soleoandopredominantocriterionoofowhatowouldobestoserveotheointerestsoando welfareoofotheominor.oTheoroleoofotheoHighoCourtoinoexaminingotheocasesoofo custodyoofoaominoroisoonotheotouchstoneoofoprincipleoofoparensopatriaeo jurisdiction,oasotheominoroisowithinotheojurisdictionoofotheoCourto(seeoPaulo MohinderoGahunov.oStateoofoNCToofoDelhio&oOrs.,o2005(1)oRCRo(Civil)o 737o:o113o(2004)oDelhioLawoTimeo823oreliedouponobyotheoappellant).oItoiso notonecessaryotoomultiplyotheoauthoritiesoonothisoproposition.o

29.oo TheoHighoCourtowhileodealingowithotheopetitionoforoissuanceoofoao writoofohabeasocorpusoconcerningoaominorochild,oinoaogivenocase,omayo directoreturnoofotheochildoorodeclineotoochangeotheocustodyoofotheochildo keepingoinomindoallotheoattendingofactsoandocircumstancesoincludingotheo settledolegalopositionoreferredotooabove.oOnceoagain,oweomayohastenotooaddo thatotheodecisionoofotheoCourt,oinoeachocase,omustodependoonotheototalityoofo theo factso ando circumstanceso ofo theo caseo broughto beforeo ito whilsto consideringotheowelfareoofotheochildowhichoisoofoparamountoconsideration.oo xxxo o o o xxxo o o o o xxxo o xxxo o o o xxxo o o o o xxxooo

30.oo Ino ao habeaso corpuso petitiono aso aforesaid,o theo Higho Courto musto examineo ato theo thresholdo whethero theo minoro iso ino lawfulo oro unlawfulo custodyoofoanotheropersono(privateorespondentonamedoinotheowritopetition).o Foroconsideringothatoissue,oinoaocaseosuchoasotheopresentoone,oitoisoenougho too noteo thato theo privateo respondento waso noneo othero thano theo naturalo guardiano ofo theo minoro beingo hero biologicalo mother.o Onceo thato facto iso ascertained,oitocanobeopresumedothatotheocustodyoofotheominorowithohis/hero mothero iso lawful.o Ino sucho ao case,o onlyo ino exceptionableo situation,o theo custodyoofotheominoro(girlochild)omayobeoorderedotoobeotakenoawayofromo heromotheroforobeingogivenotooanyootheropersonoincludingotheohusbando (fatheroofotheochild),oinoexerciseoofowritojurisdiction.oInstead,otheoothero parento cano beo askedo too resorto too ao substantiveo prescribedo remedyo foro gettingocustodyoofotheochild."o o

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 8o o

(iv)o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmentotitledoasoTejaswinio GaudoandoOrs.oversusoShekharoJagdishoPrasadoTewarioandoOthers,o2019o

(3)oRCRo(Civil)o104;ohasoheldoasounder:o "13.oo Writoofohabeasocorpusoisoaoprerogativeoprocessoforosecuringotheo libertyoofotheosubjectobyoaffordingoanoeffectiveomeansoofoimmediateoreleaseo fromoanoillegalooroimproperodetention.oTheowritoalsooextendsoitsoinfluenceo too restoreo theo custodyo ofo ao minoro too hiso guardiano wheno wrongfullyo deprivedoofoit.oTheodetentionoofoaominorobyoaopersonowhooisonotoentitledotoo hiso legalo custodyo iso treatedo aso equivalento too illegalo detentiono foro theo purposeo ofo grantingo writ,o directingo custodyo ofo theo minoro child.o Foro restorationoofotheocustodyoofoaominorofromoaopersonowhooaccordingotootheo personalolawoisonotohisolegalooronaturaloguardian,oinoappropriateocases,o theowritocourtohasojurisdiction.oo xxxo o o o xxxo o o o o xxxo o xxxo o o o xxxo o o o o xxxooo

18.oo Habeasocorpusoproceedingsoisonototoojustifyooroexamineotheolegalityo ofotheocustody.oHabeasocorpusoproceedingoisoaomediumothroughowhichotheo custodyoofotheochildoisoaddressedotootheodiscretionoofotheocourt.oHabeaso corpusoisoaoprerogativeowritowhichoisoanoextraordinaryoremedyoandotheo writoisoissuedowhereoinotheocircumstancesoofotheoparticularocase,oordinaryo remedyo providedo byo theo lawo iso eithero noto availableo oro iso ineffective;o otherwiseoaowritowillonotobeoissued.oInochildocustodyomatters,otheopoweroofo theoHighoCourtoinograntingotheowritoisoqualifiedoonlyoinocasesowhereotheo detentionoofoaominorobyoaopersonowhooisonotoentitledotoohisolegalocustody.oIno viewoofotheopronouncementoonotheoissueoinoquestionobyotheoSupremeoCourto andotheoHighoCourts,oinoouroview,oinochildocustodyomatters,otheowritoofo habeasocorpusoisomaintainableowhereoitoisoprovedothatotheodetentionoofoao minorochildobyoaoparentooroothersowasoillegaloandowithoutoanyoauthorityoofo law.o

19.oo Inochildocustodyomatters,otheoordinaryoremedyoliesoonlyounderotheo HinduoMinorityoandoGuardianshipoActoorotheoGuardiansoandoWardsoActoaso theo caseo mayo be.o Ino caseso arisingo outo ofo theo proceedingso undero theo GuardiansoandoWardsoAct,otheojurisdictionoofotheocourtoisodeterminedobyo whetherotheominoroordinarilyoresidesowithinotheoareaoonowhichotheocourto

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 9o o exercisesosuchojurisdiction.oThereoareosignificantodifferencesobetweenotheo enquiryounderotheoGuardiansoandoWardsoActoandotheoexerciseoofopowersobyo ao writo courto whicho iso ofo summaryo ino nature.o Whato iso importanto isotheo welfareoofotheochild.oInotheowritocourt,orightsoareodeterminedoonlyoonotheo basisoofoaffidavits.oWhereotheocourtoisoofotheoviewothatoaodetailedoenquiryoiso required,otheocourtomayodeclineotooexerciseotheoextraordinaryojurisdictiono andodirectotheopartiesotooapproachotheocivilocourt.oItoisoonlyoinoexceptionalo cases,o theo rightso ofo theo partieso too theo custodyo ofo theo minoro willo beo determinedo ino exerciseo ofo extraordinaryo jurisdictiono ono ao petitiono foro habeasocorpus."o

(v)o o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino ao judgmento titledo aso Joseo AntoniooZalbaoDiezoDeloCorraloaliasoJoseoAntoniooZalbaoversusoTheoStateo ofoWestoBengalo&oOrs.,o2021oSCCoOnlineoSCo3434;ohasoheldoasounder:o "11.o Itocannotobeodisputedothatobothotheoparentsomayohaveoaorightoforo custodyo ofo theiro childreno buto theo saido questiono ofo custodyo iso too beo consideredoandodecidedoafteroevidenceoisoadducedobyotheoparties,oandoaftero followingotheodueoprocedure,owhichowouldobeounderotheoprovisionsoofotheo GuardiansoandoWardsoAct;oandotheopetitionerohasoalreadyofiledoaopetitiono underotheosaidoAct,owhichomatteroisopendingoconsiderationobeforeotheoTrialo CourtoinoKolkata."o o

(vi)o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmentotitledoasoRajeswario ChandrasekaroGaneshoversusoStateoofoTamiloNaduo&oOrs.,o2023o(12)oSCCo 472;ohasoheldoasounder:o "75.oo InoaopetitionoseekingoaowritoofoHabeasoCorpusoinoaomatterorelatingo tooaoclaimoforocustodyoofoaochild,otheoprincipaloissueowhichoshouldobeotakeno intooconsiderationoisoasotoowhetherofromotheofactsoofotheocase,oitocanobeo statedothatotheocustodyoofotheochildoisoillegal.oo xxxo o o o xxxo o o o o xxxo o xxxo o o o xxxo o o o o xxxoo

79.o Theoexerciseoofotheoextraordinaryojurisdictionoforoissuanceoofoaowrito ofo Habeaso Corpuso would,o therefore,o beo seeno too beo dependento ono theo

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 10o o jurisdictionalofactowhereotheoapplicantoestablishesoaoprimaofacieocaseothato theo detentiono iso unlawful.o Ito iso onlyo whereo theo aforementionedo jurisdictionalofactoisoestablishedothatotheoapplicantobecomesoentitledotootheo writoasooforight.oo

80.oo TheoobjectoandoscopeoofoaowritoofoHabeasoCorpusoinotheocontextoofo aoclaimorelatingotootheocustodyoofoaominorochildofelloforotheoconsiderationo ofothisoCourtoinoNithyaoAnandoRaghavano(supra)oandoitowasoheldothatotheo principalodutyoofotheocourtoinosuchomattersoshouldobeotooascertainowhethero theocustodyoofotheochildoisounlawfuloandoillegaloandowhetherotheowelfareoofo theochildorequiresothatohisopresentocustodyoshouldobeochangedoandotheochildo beohandedooverotootheocareoandocustodyoofoanyootheroperson.oo

81.oo Takingo ao similaro viewo ino theo caseo ofo Syedo Saleemuddino v.o Dr.o Rukhsanaoandoothers,o(2001)o5oSCCo247,oitowasoheldobyothisoCourtothatoino aoHabeasoCorpusopetitionoseekingotransferoofocustodyoofoaochildofromooneo parentotootheoother,otheoprincipaloconsiderationoforotheocourtowouldobeotoo ascertainowhetherotheocustodyoofotheochildocanobeosaidotoobeounlawfulooro illegalo ando whethero theo welfareo ofo theo childo requireso thato theo presento custodyoshouldobeochanged.oo xxxo o o o xxxo o o o o xxxo o

91.oo Thus,o ito iso wello establishedo thato ino issuingo theo writo ofo Habeaso Corpusoinotheocaseoofominors,otheojurisdictionowhichotheoCourtoexercisesoiso anoinherentojurisdictionoasodistinctofromoaostatutoryojurisdictionoconferredo byoanyoparticularoprovisionoinoanyo specialostatute.oInootherowords,otheo employmentoofotheowritoofoHabeasoCorpusoinochildocustodyocasesoisonoto pursuantoto,obutoindependentoofoanyostatute.oTheojurisdictionoexercisedobyo theocourtorestsoinosuchocasesoonoitsoinherentoequitableopowersoandoexertso theoforceoofotheoState,oasoparensopatriae,oforotheoprotectionoofoitsominoro ward,oandotheoveryonatureoandoscopeoofotheoinquiryoandotheoresultosoughtotoo beo accomplishedo callo foro theo exerciseo ofo theo jurisdictiono ofo ao courto ofo equity.oTheoprimaryoobjectoofoaoHabeasoCorpusopetition,oasoappliedotoo minorochildren,oisotoodetermineoinowhoseocustodyotheobestointerestsoofotheo childowilloprobablyobeoadvanced.oInoaoHabeasoCorpusoproceedingobroughto byooneoparentoagainstotheootheroforotheocustodyoofotheirochild,otheocourtohaso beforeoitotheoquestionoofotheorightsoofotheopartiesoasobetweenothemselves,o andoalsoohasobeforeoit,oifopresentedobyotheopleadingsoandotheoevidence,otheo

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 11o o questiono ofo theo interesto whicho theo State,o aso parenso patriae,o haso ino promotingotheobestointerestsoofotheochild."oo o

(vii)o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmentotitledoasoNirmalao versusoKulwantoSingho&oOrs.,o2024oAIRoSupremeoCourto2344;ohasoheldoaso under:o "12.oo ItocanothusobeoseenothatothisoCourtohasoheldothatotheohabeasocorpuso isoaoprerogativeowritowhichoisoanoextraordinaryoremedy.oItohasobeenoheldo thato recourseo too sucho ao remedyo shouldo noto beo permittedo unlesso theo ordinaryo remedyo providedo byo theo lawo iso eithero noto availableo oro iso ineffective.oItohasobeenoheldothatoinochildocustodyomatters,otheopoweroofotheo Higho Courto ino grantingo theo writo iso qualifiedo onlyo ino caseso whereo theo detentionoofoaominorobyoaopersonowhooisonotoentitledotoohisolegalocustody.oIto hasofurtherobeenoheldothatoinochildocustodyomatters,otheowritoofohabeaso corpusoisomaintainableowhereoitoisoprovedothatotheodetentionoofoaominoro childobyoaoparentooroothersowasoillegaloandowithoutoanyoauthorityoofolaw.oo xxxo o o o xxxo o o o o xxxo o

16.oo Itocanothusobeoseenothatonoohardoandofastoruleocanobeolaidodowno insofaroasotheomaintainabilityoofoaohabeasocorpusopetitionoinotheomattersoofo custodyoofoaominorochildoisoconcerned.oAsotoowhetherotheowritocourtoshouldo exerciseo itso extraordinaryo jurisdictiono undero Articleo 226o ofo theo ConstitutionoofoIndiaooronotowillodependoonotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofo eachocase."o o

(viii)o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmentotitledoasoGautamo KumaroDasoversusoNCToofoDelhioandoOthers,o2024o(4)oRCRo(Civil)o98;ohaso heldoasounder:o "15.oo Recently,othisoCourt,oinotheocaseoofoNirmalao(supra)oinoparagrapho 16ohasoalsooobservedothatonoohardoandofastoruleocanobeolaidodownoinsofaro aso theo maintainabilityo ofo theo habeaso corpuso petitiono ino theo matterso ofo custodyoofominorochildoisoconcerned.oItohasobeenoheldothatoasotoowhethero theowritocourtoshouldo exerciseoitsojurisdictionounderoArticleo226oofotheo

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 12o o ConstitutionoofoIndiaooronotowillodependoonotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofo eachocase.oo

16.oo However,o ito iso too beo notedo thato ao commono threado ino allo theo judgmentso concerningo theo custodyo ofo minoro childreno iso theo paramounto welfareoofotheochild.oo xxxxxxxxxx"o o

(ix)o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmentotitledoasoSomprabhao Ranao&oOrs.oversusoTheoStateoofoMadhyaoPradesho&oOrs.,o2024o(9)oSCCo 382;ohasoheldoasounder:o "10.oo Weobelieveothatoconsideringotheopeculiarofactsoofotheocaseoandotheo child'sotenderoage,othisoisonotoaocaseowhereocustodyoofotheochildocanobeo disturbedoinoaopetitionounderoArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia.oOnlyo inosubstantiveoproceedingsounderotheoGWoActocanotheoappropriateoCourto decideo theo issueo ofo theo childo custodyo ando guardianship.o Regularo Civil/FamilyoCourtodealingowithochildocustodyocasesoisoinoanoadvantageouso position.oTheoCourtocanofrequentlyointeractowithotheochild.oPractically,oallo FamilyoCourtsohaveoaochildocentre/playoarea.oAochildocanobeobroughtotootheo playocentre,owhereotheojudicialoofficerocanointeractowithotheochild.oAccesso canobeogivenotootheopartiesotoomeetotheochildoatotheosameoplace.oMoreover,o theoCourtodealingowithocustodyomattersocanorecordoevidence.oTheoCourto canoappointoexpertsotoomakeotheopsychologicaloassessmentoofotheochild.oIfo anoaccessoisorequiredotoobeogivenotoooneoofotheopartiesotoomeetotheochild,otheo CiviloCourtooroFamilyoCourtoisoinoaobetteropositionotoomonitorotheosame."o Analysiso(reolaw)oo o

10.o o Articleo226oisocouchedoinocomprehensiveophraseologyoandoexo facieo ito conferso plenaryo powero upono theo Higho Courto too reacho ando undoo injusticeowhereveroitoisofound.oTheoConstitutionoofoIndiaohasodesignedlyousedo ao broado languageo ino describingo theo natureo ofo theo power,o theo purposeo foro whicho ando theo persono oro authorityo againsto whomo ito cano beo exercised.o Indubitably,oitocanoissueowritsoinotheonatureoofoprerogativeowritsoasocommonlyo

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 13o o understoodoinoEnglisholawobutoscopeothereofohasobeenowidenedobyotheouseoofo wordo'inotheonatureoof'oinoArticleo226.ooErgo,otheoHighoCourtoisowelloendowedo tooissueodirectionsoandoordersoasowelloapartofromowritsootherothanoprerogativeo writs.o Ino othero words,o Articleo 226o enableso theo Higho Courto too mouldo theo relief(s)otoomeetoanyopeculiaroandocomplicatedorequirementoemergingoinoao givenocase.oAccordingly,oitoisotrueopositoofoouroConstitutionalojurisprudenceo thato theo jurisdictiono exercisedo byo theo Higho Courto undero Articleo 226o iso requiredotoobeoexercisedoonceotheoCourtoisosatisfiedoregardingoexistenceoofo injusticeo oro arbitrarinesso ando anyo restriction,o whethero selfo imposedo oro statutory,ostandsoremovedoinosuchoaosituationoandonooruleoorotechnicalityoino theo exerciseo ofo sucho powero cano stando ino theo wayo ofo theo Higho Courto foro renderingojustice.oTheoveryoamplitudeoofotheowritojurisdictionodemandsothatoito willoordinarilyobeoexercisedosubjectotoocertainoself-imposedolimitations.oThereo isonoogainsayingothat,owhileoaowritoCourtoisoendowedowithowideoandoplenaryo jurisdiction,o empoweredo too administero justiceo ando upholdo Constitutionalo rights,oitomustoexerciseosuchoauthorityowithodueocautionoandojudicialorestraint.oo

11.o o Theo writo ofo Habeaso Corpus,o ao venerableo cornerstoneo ofo theo commonolaw,ostandsoasooneoofotheomostoancientolegaloinstrumentsodevisedotoo safeguardo individualo libertyo againsto unwarrantedo encroachment.o Thiso fundamentalo principleo haso beeno assimilatedo intoo ouro Constitutionalo jurisprudenceoandoitsoefficacyoasoaomechanism,owieldedobyoConstitutionalo Courtsotooprotectotheofreedomoofotheoindividual,oconfersouponoitotheohighesto degreeo ofo importance,o servingo aso aopotento remedyo accessibleo eveno tootheo humblestoofocitizensoagainstotheomostoformidableoofoauthorities.ooItohasobeeno

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 14o o aptlyo characterizedo aso 'theo keyo thato unlockso theo dooro too freedom'.o Itso profoundosignificanceoliesoinoitsoquintessentialoembodimentoofoaocivilizedo society'socommitmentotooindividualoliberty,oaffirmingotheotimelessoresolveo thatolibertyoisoanoinherentoright,onotoaoprivilegeobestowedobyotheoState.ooThiso pivotalofunctionowasoaptlyoarticulatedobyoanoAmericanojurist,oChiefoJusticeo JohnoMarshalloinoExoparteoBollman,o8oU.S.o(4ocranch)o75o(1807),owhereo ChiefoJusticeoMarshallofamouslyoheraldedoitoasotheo'GreatoWritoofoLiberty'o reflectingoitsostatusoasoanoindispensableopillaroofoconstitutionalojurisprudenceo ofoanyocivilizedoSociety.ooTheowritoofoHabeasoCorpusoisoinherentlyoproceduralo inonatureoandodealsowithotheomachineryoofojusticeo&onotowithotheosubstantiveo law.oItooperatesoasoaoprerogativeowritobyowhichotheocauseso&ovalidityoofo detentionoofoanoindividualoareoinvestigatedobyosummaryoprocedure.oShouldo theodetainingoauthority,owhetheroaopublicoofficialooroaoprivateoindividual,ofailo too convinceo theoCourtothatotheodeprivationo ofopersonalolibertyo iso inostricto conformityowithotheo'procedureoestablishedobyolaw',otheodetainedoindividualo isoforthwithoentitledotoofreedom.oErgo,otheoissueoofoillegality/unlawfulnessoofo detentiono iso ao keyo jurisdictionalo facto foro issuanceo ofo theo writo ofo Habeaso Corpus.o o

12.o o Ino caseso involvingo ao writo ofo Habeaso Corpuso concerningo theo custodyoofoaominoro-ochild,owhereotheopetitionoisofiledobyooneoparentoagainsto theootherooroagainstoaorelative,otheoparamountoissueoforojudicialoruminationoiso twoofold:ofirstly,owhetherotheominor-child'socurrentocustodyoisounlawfulooro illegalo&osecondly,owhetherotheominor-child'sowelfareonecessitatesoaochangeo

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 15o o inoexistingocustodialoarrangement,otherebyoentrustingotheochildotootheocareo&o custodyoofoanother.o

12.1o o Theodetentionoofoaominor-childobyoaoperson,onotolegallyoentitledo tootheocustody,oisodeemedoequivalentotooanoillegalodetentionoforotheopurposeo ofograntingowritoofoHabeasoCorpusoasohasobeenoheldobyoHon'bleoSupremeo Courtoino caseoofo Tejaswinio Gaudo (supra).o Consequently,o theounlawfulooro illegalonatureoofotheominor-child'socustodyoconstitutesoaojurisdictionalopre-requisiteoforotheoexerciseoofoHabeasoCorpusowritojurisdiction.oTheoCourt'so primaryodutyoisotoodetermineowhetherotheochildoisobeingoheldowithoutolegalo justification,o aso thiso foundationalo faceto iso whato empowerso theo Courto too interveneoandoissueothisoprerogativeowritoinotheonatureoofoHabeasoCorpus,oaso hasobeenoheldobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoRajeswarioChandrasekaro Ganesho(supra)o

13.o o Ino custodyo disputeso pertainingo too ao minor-child,o theo conventionalo recourseo iso througho theo provisionso ofo relevanto guardianshipo statuteso includingo theo Hinduo Minorityo ando Guardianshipo Act,o 1956;o theo GuardiansoandoWardsoAct,o1890oetc.oTheseolegislativeoframeworksoprovideoao comprehensiveoandostructuraloprocessoforotheoadjudicationoofocustodyomatterso involvingothoroughoexaminationoofoevidenceopresentedobyotheorivalopartieso andoadherenceotooestablishedoproceduralonormsoasohasobeenoheldobyoHon'bleo SupremeoCourtoinocasesoofoJoseoAntoniooZalbaoDiezoDeloCorralo(supra)oando SomprabhaoRanao(supra).oGivenotheoexistenceoofosuchoanoefficaciousoando readilyo availableo alternativeo remedy,o ao writo Courto should,o aso ao matteroofo generalojudicialodisciplineoandorestraint,oordinarilyorefrainofromointervening.o

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 16o o Toodoootherwiseowouldobeotooimproperlyoarrogateotooitselfoaojurisdictionothato rightfullyobelongsotootheoCourtsodesignatedounderotheseospecificostatutes.oTheo extraordinaryojurisdictionoofoaowritoCourtoshouldobeoinvokedoonlyowhenotheo foundationalo jurisdictionalo facto ofo minor-childo beingo ino illegalo custodyo iso demonstrablyoestablishedoorosuchoexerciseoofojurisdictionoisowarrantedobyo welfareoofominorochild.oooo o o TheowritoofoHabeasoCorpusoisonotoaosubstituteoforometiculouso andoevidence-basedodeterminationoofocustodyodispute.oItoisonototoobeoutilizedo asoaosubterfugeotoocircumventotheoproperostatutoryoforumsoandoitsoexerciseo musto beo reservedo foro exceptionalo circumstances,o whereo theo pre-requisiteo jurisdictionalofactoisoestablishedoforoitsoinvocation.oAsoaogeneraloprinciple,oao minor-childoinotheocustodyoofooneoofohisonaturaloguardiansocannot,oasoaomattero ofocourse,obeodeemedotoobeoinounlawfulooroillegalocustody,oabsentoaospecifico orderotootheocontraryoissuedobyoaocompetentoCourt.oThisofactumonecessitateso thatowritoCourtoinosuchocasesoexerciseojudicialorestrainto&odeference,oallowingo theopartiesotooseekotheiroremediesothroughotheseoaproposostatutes,osaveoino cases,owhereowelfareoofominor-childonecessitatesoanoindulgenceobyotheowrito Court.o

14.o o Itoisoaopellucidoprincipleoofolaw,oinoallomattersopertainingotootheo custodyoofoaominor-child,onotwithstandingotheonatureoofoproceedingsothatotheo paramountoconsiderationoforotheoCourtoisotheowelfareoofominor-child.oTheo finaloadjudicationomustonotobeoguidedobyotheostrictolegalorightsoofocontestingo parties,obutoratherobyotheosingularoandooverridingoobjectiveoofowhatowouldo besto serveo theo minor-child'so interest.o Theo foundationalo principleso ando

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 17o o jurisprudentialosystemsoofodiverseoglobalolegalotraditionsoareoinoremarkableo harmonyoonoaocentraloandoinviolableotenet:othatotheowelfareoandobestointerestso ofochildoconstituteotheoparamountoandooverridingoconsiderationoinoallomatterso concerningo childo custodyo ando guardianship.o Thiso foundationalo teneto iso articulatedo witho innateo clarityo ino AMERICAo JURISPRUDENCE,o IIndo Edition,oVolumeo39,oparao31,opageo34,owhichometowithofavourofromotheo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoreadsothus:o o "Generally,owhereotheowritoofohabeasocorpusoisoprosecutedoforotheopurposeo ofodeterminingotheorightotoocustodyoofoaochild,otheocontroversyodoesonoto involveotheoquestionoofopersonalofreedom,obecauseoanoinfantoisopresumedotoo beoinotheocustodyoofosomeoneountiloitoattainsoitsomajority.oTheoCourt,oino passingoonotheowritoinoaochildocustodyocase,odealsowithoaomatteroofoano equitableonature,oitoisonotoboundobyoanyomereolegalorightoofoparentooro guardian,obutoisotoogiveohisooroheroclaimotootheocustodyoofotheochildodueo weightoasoaoclaimofoundedoonohumanonatureoandogenerallyoequitableoando just.o Therefore,o theseo caseso areo decided,o noto ono theo legalo righto ofo theo petitionerotoobeorelievedofromounlawfuloimprisonmentoorodetention,oasoino theocaseoofoanoadult,obutoonotheoCourt'soviewoofotheobestointerestsoofothoseo whoseowelfareorequiresothatotheyobeoinocustodyoofooneopersonooroanother;o andohence,oaocourtoisonotoboundotoodeliveroaochildointootheocustodyoofoanyo claimanto oro ofo anyo person,o buto should,o ino theo exerciseo ofo ao soundo discretion,oafterocarefuloconsiderationoofotheofacts,oleaveoitoinosuchocustodyo asoitsowelfareoatotheotimeoappearsotoorequire.oInoshort,otheochild'sowelfareoiso theosupremeoconsideration,oirrespectiveoofotheorightsoandowrongsoofoitso contendingoparents,oalthoughotheonaturalorightsoofotheoparentsoareoentitledo tooconsideration.o o o Ano applicationo byo ao parent,o througho theo mediumo ofo ao habeaso corpusoproceeding,oforocustodyoofoaochildoisoaddressedotootheodiscretionoofo theocourt,oandocustodyomayobeowithheldofromotheoparentowhereoitoisomadeo clearlyo too appearo thato byo reasono ofo unfitnesso foro theo trusto oro ofo othero sufficientocausesotheopermanentointerestsoofotheochildowouldobeosacrificedo byoaochangeoofocustody.oInodeterminingowhetheroitowillobeoforotheobesto

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 18o o interestoofoaochildotooawardoitsocustodyotootheofatherooromother,otheoCourto mayoproperlyoconsultotheochild,oifoitohasosufficientojudgment".o o o AoCourt'soroleoinoadjudicatingominoro-ochildocustodyocasesoiso manifestationoofoitsoparensopatriaeojurisdiction,oakinotooanoultimateoguardiano asohasobeenoheldobyoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinocaseoofoNirmalao(supra)oando GautamoKumaroDaso(supra).oTheoCourt'sodecisionoinoeachocaseomustobeo predicated,oonoaoholisticoandometiculousoexaminationoofotheototalityoofotheo factso ando circumstances,o witho theo minoro -o child'so welfareo servingo aso theo centralo ando mosto crucialo criteriono asohaso beenoheldo byo Hon'bleo Supremeo CourtoinocaseoofoSyedoSaleemuddino(supra)oandoreiteratedoinocaseoofoGautamo KumaroDaso(supra).oThisoapproachoisomandatedobyotheoconsiderationothato minor-childoisonotoaomereoobjectoofolegalodisputeobutoaosubjectowhoseowell-beingoisoofotheohighestopriority,osupersedingoallootheroconsiderations,opushingo allo othero aspects,o includingo adversarialo claimso ofo theo parties,o intoo theo oblivion.oAsostatedoinoHalsbury'soLawoofoEngland,oFourthoEdition,oVol.24,o parao511,opageo217:o o "Whereoinoanyoproceedingsobeforeoanyocourtotheocustodyooroupbringingoofo aominoroisoinoquestion,othen,oinodecidingothatoquestion,otheocourtomusto regardotheominor'sowelfareoasotheofirstoandoparamountoconsideration,oando mayonototakeointooconsiderationowhetherofromoanyootheropointoofoviewotheo father'soclaimoinorespectoofothatocustodyooroupbringingoisosuperiorotoothato ofotheomother,oorotheomother'soclaimoisosuperiorotoothatoofotheofather."o o o Theoprincipleothatotheowelfareoofoaominorochildoisoparamountoiso soofundamentalothat,oinoappropriateocases,oaowritoCourt,oexercisingoitsoparenso patriaeojurisdiction,omayoevenorelaxotheojurisdictionalopre-requisiteoofominoro childo beingo kepto ino illegal/unlawfulo custody.o Ino sucho exceptionalo

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 19o o circumstances,o theo burdeno alsoo lieso upono theo petitionero too establish,o witho unambiguousoandocogentomaterialsothatotheominorochild'socustodyowithotheo respondentoisodemonstrablyocontraryotootheominorochild'soultimateowelfare.oo Tooeffectivelyoadjudicateothisoparamountoissue,otheowritoCourtomay,oinoitso discretion,o adopto ano inquisitorialo methodology,o employingo ao rangeo ofo measures,o includingo ao personalo interactiono witho theo minoro childo ando requestingotheosubmissionoofoaffidavit(s)ofromotheorivalopartiesodetailingoallo materialo facts.o Thiso enableso theo Courto too ordero ao propero custodialo arrangement,onotwithstandingotheoabsenceoofotheojurisdictionalopre-requisite,o inoviewoofopeculiarofactsoandocircumstancesoofoaocase.oHowever,othisolatitudeo mustobeoexercisedowithoscrupulousojudicialorestraint,oensuringothatotheoCourto doeso noto arrogateo theo jurisdictiono properlyo vestedo ino specific/designatedo statutoryoforumsoandothatoitsoextra-ordinaryopoweroisonotoreducedotooaomereo alternativeotoootheroavailableoandoefficaciousolegaloremedies.oo o o Similarly,o ino furtheranceo ofo theo minor-child'so welfareo andotoo fulfilloitsodutyoasosentineloonotheoquioviveoforotheominorochild'sowell-being,otheo writoCourtomayoissueosuchointerimoordersoconcerningotheocustodyoandoothero incidentaloaspectsoasoareowarrantedobyotheoexigenciesoofotheosituation.oSucho anointerimoorder,oissuedotooensureominorochild'sowellobeing,ocanobeopassedo eveno wheno theo Courto directso theo partieso too pursueo ano alternativeo remedyo undero applicableo guardianshipo statuteo aso haso beeno heldo byo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino caseo ofo Nithyao Anando Raghavano (supra).o o Foro sucho purpose,otheowritoCourtomayoevenoseekoreportofromoconcernedoCivil/Familyo Courtowithorespectotoosuchoissuesoasoitodeemsoappropriateoforodeterminationo

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 20o o ofofactso&othenotakeoaoviewoitselfoasoheldobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoino caseoofoDr.oVeenaoKapooro(supra).oSuchoanoapproachoisonecessitatedotookeepo theowelfareoofotheominorochildoasoultimateodeterminantoofojustice.oo

15.o o Nooexhaustiveosetoofoguideline(s)otoogovern,otheoexerciseoofothiso aspectobyotheoHighoCourt,ocanopossiblyobeolaidodown,ohoweveroalluringothiso aspecto mayo be.o o Ito iso neithero fathomableo noro desirableo too layo downo anyo straightjacketoformulaoinothisoregard.ooToodoosoowouldobeotoocrystallizeointooao rigidodefinition,oaojudicialodiscretion,owhichoforobestoofoalloreasonsodeserveotoo beoleftoundetermined.ooAnyoattemptoinothisoregardowouldobe,otoosayotheoleast,oao utopianoendeavour.ooCircumstantialoflexibility,ooneoadditionaloorodifferento fact,omayomakeoaoseaoofodifferenceobetweenoconclusionsoofotwoocases.ooSucho exerciseowouldothus,oindubitably,obeodependentouponotheofactualomatrixoofo theoparticularocaseowhichotheoHighoCourtoisoinoseisinoof,osinceoeveryocaseohaso itsoownopeculiarofactualoconspectus.ooo o o

16.o o Asoaosequiturotootheoaboveorumination,otheofollowingopostulateso emerge:o I.o TheoHighoCourt'sojurisdictionotooissueoaowritoofoHabeasoCorpuso ino minoro childo custodyo mattero iso predicatedo ono theo basico jurisdictionalo fact,o namely,o theo minoro child'so custodyo iso demonstrablyoillegal/unlawful.ooInoappropriateocases,otheoHigho Courtomayorelaxothisojurisdictionaloprerequisite,oinotheointeresto ofowelfareoofominorochild.oo II.o Theo writo ofo Habeaso Corpuso iso noto ao substituteo foro theo comprehensiveoandoevidenceobasedoproceduresoavailableoundero applicableoguardianshipostatuteso(suchoasooHinduoMinorityoando GuardianshipoAct,o1956; GuardiansoandoWardsoAct,o1890oetc.).oo

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 21o o Asoaomatteroofogeneralojudicialoprinciple,otheowritoCourtooughtotoo ordinarilyo exerciseo restrainto ando defero dispute(s)o too statutoryo forumso unlesso accentuatingo circumstanceso necessitateo sucho interventionobyoHighoCourtooo III.oo Ino allo matterso relatingo too theo custodyo ofo minoro child,o theo paramounto considerationo iso theo welfareo ofo sucho child.o o Ino exerciseoofoitsoparensopatriaeojurisdiction;otheoHighoCourtomay,o inoappropriateocases,ouponoaoholisticoexaminationoofofacts,otakeo anoinquisitionaloroleotooensureothatotheocustodialoarrangemento servesotheobestointerestoofotheochild,osupersedingotheoadversarialo claimsoofotheoparties.oo IV.o Inofurtheranceoofoaominorochild'sowelfare,otheowritoCourtomayo issueointerimoorder(s)oconcerningocustodyoandootheroincidentalo aspectsoasowarrantedobyoexigenciesoofotheosituation,oensuringo thato theo minoro child'so wello beingo remainso theo ultimateo determinantoofojusticeoandothereafteroreferopartiesotooremedy(s)o beforeostatutoryoforum(s)oforofinal/furtherodeterminationoofotheo lis.ooooooooo V.o TheoHighoCourt,oinoitsowritojurisdictionohasounbridled,ounfetteredo ando plenaryo powers.o o Noo inflexibleo ando comprehensiveo guidelineso cano conceivablyo beo enumeratedo governingo theo exerciseoofotheseointrinsicopowers.ooThereoisonoogainsayingothato theonature,omodeoandoextentoofosuchoexerciseoofothisojurisdictiono byo theo Higho Courto shallo dependo upono theo judicialo discretiono exercisedobyotheoHighoCourtoinotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofoao givenocase.oo Analysiso(reofactsoofotheopresentocase)o

17.o o NowothisoCourtorevertsotootheofactsoofotheopresentocaseotoodelveo thereupon.ooo

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 22o o

18.o o Theopetitionero–o motherohaso alreadyo institutedo ano applicationo underotheoGuardiansoandoWardsoAct,o1890oforoseekingocustodyoofotheochildoino questionofromorespondentoNo.4o–ofather,oinoJanuaryo2025.ooStillofurtherotheo petitionero–omotherohadofiledoanoapplication,oseekingovisitationorights)oinotheo DVo Act,o whicho cameo too beo declinedo ono 11.02.2025.o o Noo justificationo iso comingoforth,oatotheoendoofotheopetitioneroasotoowhyothisoCourtooughtotoo exerciseo itso extrao ordinaryo powero undero writo jurisdictiono despiteo theo petitionerohavingoearlierofiledoanoapplicationo(underotheoGuardiansoandoWardso Act,o1890)oforoprimarilyotheosameorelief.ooThus,onothingoaccentuatingohaso beenobroughtoforwardowhichomayopersuadeothisoCourtotooexerciseoitsowrito jurisdiction.oErgo,otheowritopetitionodeservesotoobeodismissedowitholibertyotoo theorivaloparty(s)otoopursueotheirocauseobeforeotheoconcernedoCourtounderotheo statutorilyoavailableoremediesoincludingotheoGuardiansoandoWardsoAct,o1890.oo o o Further,otheopetitionero–omotherohasonotodisclosed,oinotheopresento proceedings,otheofactumoofoheroearlierohavingoinstitutedoproceedingsoundero theoGuardiansoandoWardsoAct,o1880oasoalsootheodecliningoofoheroapplicationo (foro visitationo rights)o undero theo DVo Acto proceedings.o Wheno theo learnedo counseloforotheopetitionerowasospecificallyoaskedoregardingothisoconcealment,o theoresponseowasonothingobutosheeroprevarication.oThisounscrupulousoattempt,o byo theo petitioner,o deserveso too beo deprecated.o o Thiso Courto refrainso fromo imposingocostsouponotheopetitionerokeepingoinoview,ointeroalia,otheofactumoofo theopetitionerobeingoaoladyoagedo26oyearsowithonooantecedentsoregardingosucho concealmentoinoCourtoproceedingso&otheomatteroinohandoarisingooutoofoissueo ofocustodyoofoaominorochild.o o o

o o CRWP-6232-2025oo o o o o o o o 23o o Decisiono

19.o o Inoviewoofotheoprevenientoratiocination,oitoisodirectedoasounder:o

(i)o o Theowritopetitionoisodismissed,oreservingolibertyoinofavouroofotheo rivalo party(s)o too pursueo theiro causeo beforeo theo concernedo Court(s)o ino theo petitionopendingoadjudicationounderotheoGuardiansoandoWardsoActoand/oroino anyootheroproceedingsoinstitutedobyothem.oo

(ii)o o Anyoobservationsomadeoand/orosubmissionsonotedohereinaboveo shallonotohaveoanyoeffectoonotheomeritsoofotheolitigation(s)opendingobetweeno theo rivalo partieso (herein)o regardingo theo custodyo ofo theo childo ino question,o which,o buto of-course,o shallo beo decidedo ono itso owno meritso withouto beingo influencedowithothisoorder.oo

(iii).oo o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedoof.o o o o o o o o o o o o ooo o oooooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o o o o o o oooooJUDGEo Augusto27,o2025oo Mahavir/Ajayooo o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yeso o Whetheroreportable:o o o Yeso o o

o