Father appealed against Family Court order denying permanent custody of his minor son, which gave him structured unsupervised visitation and directed monthly maintenance of Rs. 15,000. The Division Bench found no ground to interfere, noting the child was settled with mother and maternal grandmother, and dismissed the appeal.
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* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
SH. PAWAN SINGH NEGI .....Appellant Through: Mr. Tarun Johri, Advocate.
versus
SMT. BHAWANA BHAKUNI .....Respondent Through: None.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KSHETARPAL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARISH VAIDYANATHAN SHANKAR
% JUDGEMENT (ORAL)
ANIL KSHETARPAL, J.
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:HARVINDER KAUR BHATIA Signing Date: 24.1 1.2025 18:34:50
MAT.APP.(F.C.) 409/2025 Page 1 of 5
“18. Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the present case, this Court is declaring both the parties as Guardian of the minor child but this Court is not inclined to grant permanent custody of the minor child to the petitioner, however, the following unsupervised temporary custody of the minor child is granted to the petitioner with liabilities:-
(a) The Petitioner, after School hours, on first, third and fourth Friday, can pick the minor child from the School of minor child and thereafter, the minor child will remain with petitioner from that Friday till 10.00 a.m. of Sunday i.e. Sunday, which will come after the said Friday and at about 11.00 a.m. on the said Sunday, the petitioner will drop the minor child at the residence of respondent. The minor child shall remain with the respondent during remaining days of the week. In case, the said Friday happens to be holiday, then, the petitioner can pick the minor child from the residence of respondent at about 02.00 p.m.
(b) For First 5 days of vacations after final exams, first 15 days of Summer Vacations and for the first 5 days of Winter Vacations, the minor child shall remain with petitioner and in view of the same, the aforesaid arrangement from Friday to Sunday, as mentioned hereinabove in point-(a) shall remain suspended for the remaining vacations of final exams, Summer and Winter Vacations.
(c) If, birthdays, either of the petitioner or of the minor child, falls on such Friday and Saturday or during such vacations i.e. after final exams, Summer or Winter Vacations, then, no separate order is required and the petitioner can enjoy the birthday within such time, however, in case, such birthdays fall on any other day, then, the petitioner can take the minor child after school hours or if, the same happened to be a holiday, then, at 03.00 p.m., from the residence of the respondent and return the minor child on the same day at 07.30 p.m. at the residence of respondent. It is also made clear that if, Birthday of minor child falls on Friday or Saturday, then, for the respondent, the petitioner will drop the minor child to the residence of respondent at about 08.00 p.m. and can pick him back in the next morning at about 10 a.m. but if, the next morning is a Sunday, then, the minor child will remain with the respondent.
(d) If, festivals/special occasions of Dusshera, Diwali, Bhaiya Dhooj, Raksha Bandan and Holi falls on such Friday and Saturday or during such final exams vacations, summer or winter vacations, then, no separate order is required and the petitioner can celebrate the same within such time, however, in case, such special occasions/festivals all on any other day, then, the petitioner can take the minor child at about 11.00 a.m. and return the minor child
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:HARVINDER KAUR BHATIA Signing Date: 24.1 1.2025 18:34:50
MAT.APP.(F.C.) 409/2025 Page 2 of 5
on the same day at 02.30 p.m. to the respondent at her residence. For the respondent, on such Friday or Saturday, the petitioner will drop the minor child to the residence of respondent at about 08.00 p.m. and can pick him back in the next morning at about 10.00 a.m. but if, the next morning is Sunday, then, the minor child will remain with the respondent.
(e) The petitioner shall ensure that the studies and extracurricular or co-curricular activities of the minor child shall not get affected in any manner by way of such arrangement and he will ensure that minor child will study properly during the said time. If, during the said visitation, the child is required to be taken to Doctor or to the Counsellor, then, the petitioner is directed that he will do the needful and he is also directed to bear the entire expenses during the said time.
(f) The petitioner is not contributing anything towards educational expenses and day-to-day expenses of the minor child. The petitioner is directed to pay/deposit Rs.15,000/- per month in the account of respondent from the month of October, 2025 on or before 10th day of each English Calendar month and the same be increased to I 0% of last paid amount, after elapse of every one year. For Example, from the month of October, 2026, the petitioner is required to pay/deposit Rs.16,500/- per month and from the month of October, 2027, the petitioner is required to pay/deposit Rs.18, 150/- per month and so on. The said arrangement will continue till schooling of the minor child and thereafter, for higher studies, both the parties i.e. the petitioner and respondent will contribute 50% each of all the expenses i.e. registration, counselling, entire college fees including food, boarding, lodging, gazettes etc.
(g) The petitioner is allowed to attend PTM and school of the minor child in order to know his progress.
(h) The parties and their respective family members shall not pollute mind of the minor child against each other so that environment of the minor child shall remain congenial for overall development of the minor child.
(i) During the said visitation, the parties/their relatives shall maintain peaceful and cordial behaviour with each other and parties will not create ruckus at that time, at the said place, in order to maintain peace and harmony amongst themselves as well as for the welfare of minor child.
(j) The aforesaid arrangement will remain continue till the minor child is in school and thereafter, with the consent of minor child.”
Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:HARVINDER KAUR BHATIA Signing Date: 24.1 1.2025 18:34:50
MAT.APP.(F.C.) 409/2025 Page 3 of 5
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:HARVINDER KAUR BHATIA Signing Date: 24.1 1.2025 18:34:50
MAT.APP.(F.C.) 409/2025 Page 4 of 5
interfere.
ANIL KSHETARPAL, J.
HARISH VAIDYANATHAN SHANKAR, J.
NOVEMBER 21, 2025 / v /rou
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:HARVINDER KAUR MAT.APP.(F.C.) 409/2025 Page 5 of 5 BHATIA Signing Date: 24.1 1.2025 18:34:50
2 issues framed by the court
Whether the Family Court's arrangement keeping permanent custody with the mother with unsupervised visitation to the father warranted interference.
Whether the father could be directed to pay Rs. 15,000 per month child support absent a prayer in the appeal.
Pawan Singh Negi
Bhawana Bhakuni
Anil Kshetarpal
Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar
As recorded by the court registry
An appeal under Section 19 of the Family Courts Act 1984 against a decree or order of a Family Court.
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
