Woman quits job for son’s custody, but in vain

As directed by the Bombay high court, a woman from Sangli quit her job to get custody of her minor son, but despite this, she had to face disappointment as the husband failed to produce the child during any of the court proceedings.

Considering the delicate matter of child custody, the high court did not issue any warrant for producing the child before it, but instead, directed the family court to hear the wife’s plea that sought interim custody on merit. It had also been directed to consider that the mother quit her job on July 18 for custody.

The father had made excuses for not turning up in court with the child for three proceedings. He had said that the child was unwell or that he had changed his advocate. The husband’s father had informed the court that he was unable to get in touch with him.

The court did not take any legal action against him due to a statement he made during a previous hearing. He had said, “The child would need the mother as much as the father.”

After three years of marriage, the woman took her son and left her husband in 2010. The child had stayed with his father since January 2011 when he was given “access.” She moved the family court seeking interim custody of the child but the court neither rejected nor accepted her plea. Along with the divorce petition filed by her husband, it posted the matter for hearing and allowed him custody till the matter came up for hearing. The wife then moved the high court challenging the family court order.

During the hearing, she had been directed by the high court to quit her job and stay with her parents if she wanted custody of her 4-year-old son.