Supreme Court permits 37-year-old to meet son in Dubai

The Supreme Court’s order allowing a city businessman access to his son in Dubai is not a single instance anymore.

The apex court on Tuesday permitted Sandip Kedia, 37, to meet his five-year-old son in Dubai for two days every month. This order may give hope to a number of couples caught in a legal wrangle over the custody of their children in courts in India and abroad.

Sandip, who alleged that his wife Pooja had fled the country with their son without his knowledge, had first moved the Bombay high court in a habeas corpus petition seeking the production of his son. Sandip and Pooja are, however, not divorced or legally separated.

On October 29, the Bombay high court had ordered that the child be brought before the court but the SC stayed this order after Pooja challenged it. On December 17, 2010, the court had allowed Sandip to meet his son in Dubai during his school vacation.

Justice Markadey Katju and justice Gyan Sudha Mishra observed that the child cannot be deprived of his father’s love and affection and permitted Sandip to visit his son every month on Fridays and Saturdays.