Allowed¶42

C.Diwaker v. M.Suba

Madras HC6 Jan 2026OP/350/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madras High Court (P. Dhanabal J., 06-01-2026) allowing an uncontested father's original petition under Sections 3, 7 to 10 and 25 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 read with Order XXI Rules 2 and 3 of the Original Side Rules and Clause 17 of the Letters Patent Act, appointing him guardian of the person and property of his two-year-old daughter D. Shanvi and granting permanent custody till majority; mother absent despite notice and paper publication, evidence unrebutted; keywords: guardianship, custody, welfare of minor, abandonment, unrebutted evidence, Madras High Court.

What did the court decide?

Petitioner father appointed guardian of the person and property of the minor child D. Shanvi and granted permanent custody of the child, in each case till her attaining age of majority. ¶42

C.Diwaker Vs M.Suba — Child Custody and Guardianship | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Petitioner father appointed guardian of the person and property of the minor child D. Shanvi and granted permanent custody of the child, in each case till her attaining age of majority.

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Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner father is entitled to be appointed as guardian of the person and property of the minor girl child D. Shanvi. +1 more

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Court's answer

The petitioner has proved his case through sufficient evidences and documents, and the evidence of the petitioner is not rebutted by the respondent.

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Ratio / Principle

The petitioner, being the father, is the only one taking care of the minor child, has no adverse interest against her, and can therefore be appointed as guardian in her best interest.

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Key takeaways

The petitioner is entitled to be appointed as guardian of the person and property of the minor child D. Shanvi and to have permanent custody of the minor child.ratio¶38
Operative direction (i): the petitioner father is appointed as 'guardian' for the minor child D. Shanvi of her person and property till her attaining age of majority.ratio¶44
Operative direction (ii): the petitioner father is granted permanent custody of the minor child D. Shanvi till her attaining age of majority.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 — Sections 3, 7 to 10 and 25, with Order XXI Rules 2 and 3 of the Original Side Rules and Clause 17 of the Letters Patent Act — Guardianship and permanent custody of minor girl aged about two years — Petition by father following matrimonial discord; mother left the matrimonial home in December 2023 when the child was about six months old and, despite an agreement dated 04.07.2024 to return within three months, neither returned nor showed interest in the child — Notice and paper publication effected; respondent did not appear or cross-examine PW1; Ex.P.1 to Ex.P.11 marked and unrebutted — Court held the father is caring for the child, has no adverse interest against her, and the child's welfare requires her upbringing in his care and custody — Petitioner appointed guardian of the person and property of the minor and granted permanent custody till she attains majority — Original petition allowed.

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OP No. 350 of 2025

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 06-01-2026

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P. DHANABAL

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OP No. 350 of 2025

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C.Diwaker S/o.S.Chakravarthy, 43/536A, J.V.Stalin Street, Rajajipuram, Tiruvallur District, Tiruvallur - 602 001.

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Petitioner(s)

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M.Suba D/o.G.Muthukrishna Naidu, No.425/5, Neerazhi, Ayikuppam, Cuddalore District - 607 301.

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Respondent(s)

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PRAYER: The Original Petition has been filed under Sections 3,7 to 10 and 25 of the Guardians and Wards Act and under Order XXI Rule 2 and 3 of Original Side Rules and Clause XVII of Letters Patent Act praying for appointing and declaring the petitioner as the guardian of the person of the minor girl child D.Shanvi aged about two years and declaring the petitioner to have the permanent custody of the minor girl child D.Shanvi.

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For Petitioner(s): Ms. C.S.Sreenedhi For Respondent(s): Ms. R. Saraswathi

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Page 1

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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OP No. 350 of 2025

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ORDER

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This petition has been filed under Sections 3, 7 to 10 and 25 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 read with Order XXI Rule 2 and 3 of the Original Side Rules read with Clause 17 of the Letters Patent Act praying for appointing and declaring the petitioner as the guardian of the person of the minor girl child D.Shanvi aged about two years and declaring the petitioner to have the permanent custody of the minor girl child D.Shanvi.

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According to the petitioner, marriage was solemnised between the petitioner and the respondent on 08.05.2022 as per Hindu rites and customs and out of the wedlock, they have one daughter namely D. Shanvi. There were matrimonial disputes between the parties. The respondent was never interested in family life and she had the habit of checking the petitioner’s cell phone while he is sleeping and caused mental stress to the petitioner and she did not discharge her duties as wife and there were several issues between the petitioner and the respondent. When she became pregnant, she did not want a girl baby. The respondent had a history of attempting suicide during her college times and she had a sadistic nature and the same shall affect the welfare of their minor daughter. The respondent’s suicidal thoughts and threatening to suicide is a way of emotional blackmail. The respondent delivered a female baby on 26.06.2023. All the delivery expenses were incurred by the petitioner’s family

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Page 2

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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OP No. 350 of 2025

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only. The petitioner’s mother only took care of the child. The respondent did not discharge her duty as a mother. The respondent went to her father’s house in December 2023 without even taking the few months’ old baby. She never bothered about the child’s well-being. The nature of respondent is very dangerous and unsafe to the child. The respondent was never ready for reconciliation and to live with the petitioner.

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2.1. On 04.07.2024, the petitioner handed over all the belongings of the

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respondent and her jewellery in the presence of the parents of the respondent. On that day, the respondent executed an agreement stating that she has received all her belongings and jewellery and she is pursuing a course and that she will come back to live in the matrimonial house in three months and if she does not come back within 3 months, the petitioner is open to take any legal action. As

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per the promise in the said agreement, the respondent neither came to matrimonial home to live with the petitioner nor bothered about the minor child. When the respondent left the matrimonial home during December 2023, the minor child was aged 6 months old and now the child is aged 1 year and 10 months. The child is growing with the petitioner and his family members. The respondent never had any interest towards family life and did not take care of the minor child and she abandoned the new born baby. The petitioner is a Marine Engineer and he is capable of taking care of his daughter. The

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Page 3

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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OP No. 350 of 2025

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respondent is not a fit person to take care of the child. She may try to disturb the custody of the minor child from the petitioner with a sole intention to harass the petitioner. In order to safeguard the interest and welfare of the child, it is just and necessary to restrain the respondent from causing disturbance and to appoint and declare the petitioner as a guardian of the child and to give permanent custody of the minor child to the petitioner. The paramount importance of the welfare of the minor child requires brought up of the child under the care and custody of her petitioner father. The petitioner undertakes to take care of the child and he is also having requisite resources to provide for the emotional, educational and social needs of the child. The petitioner has no adverse interest against the minor daughter. Therefore, the petitioner has filed this petition seeking permission to appoint him as guardian for the person and property of the minor child and to grant permanent custody of the child so as to prevent the respondent from interfering with the education, growth and development of the child.

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Notice served on the other side and paper publication was also effected. No objection has been raised. The matter was posted for examination of witnesses. On the side of the petitioner, PW1 was examined and Ex.P.1 to Ex.P.11 were marked.

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Page 4

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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OP No. 350 of 2025

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This Court also perused the evidence and the entire records.

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As per the evidence of PW1 and the documents Ex.P.1. to Ex.P.11,

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they revealed that the petitioner and the respondent are the husband and wife and they are the parents of the minor child namely D. Shanvi. There is matrimonial dispute between the parties. Despite notice and paper publication was effected, the respondent did not appear. Even before the masters Court, despite sufficient opportunities, the respondent did not appear and cross examine PW1.

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The minor child is now under the care and custody of the petitioner father. The petitioner contended that the respondent neglected him and the minor child and she did not discharge her duties as a mother. The petitioner has proved his case through sufficient evidences and documents. The evidence of the petitioner is not rebutted by the respondent. The petitioner being the father, is only taking care of the minor child and he has no any adverse interest against the minor child and therefore, he can be appointed as guardian of the minor child in her best interest. Therefore, the petitioner is entitled to be appointed as guardian of the person and property of the minor child D. Shanvi and to have permanent custody of the minor child.

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Page 5

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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OP No. 350 of 2025

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In view of the above discussions, this original petition is allowed on

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the following terms:

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(i) The petitioner father is appointed as a 'guardian' for the minor child D. Shanvi of her person and property till her attaining age of majority.

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(ii) The petitioner father is als o granted permanent custody of the minor child D. Shanvi, till her attaining age of majority.

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06-01-2026

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Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes Neutral Citation:Yes/No

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mjs

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APPENDIX:

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List of Petitioner side Witnesses:

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PW1 : Mr. C. Diwaker

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List of Petitioner side Documents:

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Exhibit	Date	Description of Documents
No.
Ex.P.1.	-	PW1’s Marriage Invitation Card.
Ex.P.2	-	Photocopyof PW1’s Marriagephotograph.
Ex.P.3	-	Computer generated Birth Certificate of PW1’s minor daughter D. Shanvi.
Ex.P.4.	-	Photograph of PW1’s minor daughter D. Shanvi.
Ex.P.5	04.07.2024	Photocopyof the agreement entered into

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Page 6

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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OP No. 350 of 2025

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		between PW1 and the respondent.
Ex.P.6	21.04.2025	Photocopy of the Certificate of Medical of PW1’s daughter D. Shanvi.	Fitness
Ex.P.7.	-	Photocopy of the Immunisation and record of PW1’s daughter D. Shanvi.	health
Ex.P.8.	-	Photocopyof PW1’s Aadhar Card.
Ex.P.9.	-	Downloaded copy of PW1’s Indian Account Statement bearing No.6450985489.	Bank A/c.
Ex.P.10.	-	Certificate under Section 63(4)(C) of B.S electronic documents.	.A. for
Ex.P.11	-	Pendrive for Ex.P.2 and Ex.P.4.