Ruchika Abbi and Anr Vs. State of National Capital Territory of Delhi and Anr.
EmailAppeal: CRIMINAL APPEAL No.1683 OF 2015
Petitioner: Ruchika Abbi and Anr
Respondent: State of National Capital Territory of Delhi and Anr.
Judges: , CHELAMESWAR, ABHAY MANOHAR SAPRE
Date of Judgment: Dec 09, 2015
JUDGEMENT:
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL No.1683 OF 2015 (Arising out of S.L.P.(Crl.)No. 2372 of 2015)
Ruchika Abbi & Anr. Appellant(s)
VERSUS
State of National Capital Territory of Delhi & Anr. Respondent(s) WITH CONTEMPT PETITION (C) No. 382/2015 In S.L.P. (CRL.) NO. 2372/2015
ORDER Abhay Manohar Sapre, J. Leave granted. 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 Habeas Corpus writ petition filed by the appellant herein for the production and return of the minor 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 of their minor daughter-Roshni. 4) So far as this appeal is concerned, as mentioned above, it arises out of final judgment and order dated 07.11.2014 passed by the High Court of Delhi at New Delhi in a habeas corpus petition bearing W.P.(Crl.) No. 1735 of 2014 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 Family Court to dispose of the 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 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 with the child, we feel that it would be just and proper to direct the Family Court, which has seized of the 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 law keeping in view the paramount interest and welfare of the child and all relevant factors necessary for deciding the custody of minor child uninfluenced by any of our observations. 8) During the pendency of the main custody case, the temporary custody of the child-Roshni will be with the respondent no. 2 – i.e. husband/father. The respondent no. 2 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 and expect from the appellant and respondent no. 2 to cooperate with each other for the sake of their minor child’s welfare and taking advantage of temporary custody of the child not to influence her innocent mind by tutoring her and create hatred against others for their personal interest-a fact, which we unfortunately noticed while interacting with the child on two occasions. Indeed, we feel that such attempt on their part and especially, respondent no. 2 may do more harm to the child in long run. 10) In our view, both parties being young and highly educated should realize such things for the welfare of their own child and make sincere efforts to come 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 and father, who were responsible to bring her in this world. 11) We, therefore, direct the Family 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 custody case. 12) With these 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. …………………………J. [J. CHELAMESWAR]
…………………………….J. [ABHAY MANOHAR SAPRE] New Delhi; December 09, 2015. ———————– 5
CRIMINAL APPEAL No.1683 OF 2015 (Arising out of S.L.P.(Crl.)No. 2372 of 2015)
Ruchika Abbi & Anr. Appellant(s)
VERSUS
State of National Capital Territory of Delhi & Anr. Respondent(s) WITH CONTEMPT PETITION (C) No. 382/2015 In S.L.P. (CRL.) NO. 2372/2015
ORDER Abhay Manohar Sapre, J. Leave granted. 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 Habeas Corpus writ petition filed by the appellant herein for the production and return of the minor 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 of their minor daughter-Roshni. 4) So far as this appeal is concerned, as mentioned above, it arises out of final judgment and order dated 07.11.2014 passed by the High Court of Delhi at New Delhi in a habeas corpus petition bearing W.P.(Crl.) No. 1735 of 2014 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 Family Court to dispose of the 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 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 with the child, we feel that it would be just and proper to direct the Family Court, which has seized of the 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 law keeping in view the paramount interest and welfare of the child and all relevant factors necessary for deciding the custody of minor child uninfluenced by any of our observations. 8) During the pendency of the main custody case, the temporary custody of the child-Roshni will be with the respondent no. 2 – i.e. husband/father. The respondent no. 2 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 and expect from the appellant and respondent no. 2 to cooperate with each other for the sake of their minor child’s welfare and taking advantage of temporary custody of the child not to influence her innocent mind by tutoring her and create hatred against others for their personal interest-a fact, which we unfortunately noticed while interacting with the child on two occasions. Indeed, we feel that such attempt on their part and especially, respondent no. 2 may do more harm to the child in long run. 10) In our view, both parties being young and highly educated should realize such things for the welfare of their own child and make sincere efforts to come 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 and father, who were responsible to bring her in this world. 11) We, therefore, direct the Family 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 custody case. 12) With these 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. …………………………J. [J. CHELAMESWAR]
…………………………….J. [ABHAY MANOHAR SAPRE] New Delhi; December 09, 2015. ———————– 5
