It’d be unfair if adopted girl is sent back to orphanage: HC

In an ex-parte order passed in July 2011,however,a family court in Pune granted the child’s custody to the husband. Contesting the family court order,the wife moved the High Court for exclusive custody of the child and maintenance from her husband. The husband,claiming to be the better guardian,sought permanent custody of the child.

Lawyer Mihir Desai,appointed amicus curiae (friend of the court) by the court,however,cautioned that the court should take an early decision on the child’s adoption as the couple may abandon her at a later stage. “Today they’re arguing on guardianship,but tomorrow they may abandon her,” Desai said.

Observing that the child’s welfare was of utmost importance,Justices V M Kanade and M S Sonak reserved their order in the case till November 25.

The Italian national,a consultant with an automobile company,came to India on business in 1998 and currently lives in Pune. He met his wife in 1999 and they got married in 2006 in Goa.

The wife’s lawyers Rohaan Cama and Edith Dey told the High Court that while granting the child’s custody to the husband,the family court had taken into account his contention that the child should not be kept with his wife in Goa as she had an ailing mother to look after and would not be able to tend to the child’s needs. Citing Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) guidelines,they argued that the girl child should have the mother by her side,especially while growing up. “A single male has no right to take custody of the girl child,” Cama said.

The wife had sought an interim order granting her access to the child. The court suggested that if the she could stay in Pune three days a week,she could get access to the child.

The husband’s lawyer Abhijit Sarvate argued that the CARA guidelines would apply only to children adopted after 2011,as held by the Supreme Court. Sarvate submitted photographs of the girl while she was living with her mother in Goa and alleged that the pictures showed “unhealthy” living conditions.

He also alleged that his wife was more interested in money and not the child’s welfare.

Aamir Khan

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com