Jaipur family court allows London-based father twice-monthly video calls with daughter

Jaipur: A family court in the city has granted a London-based father the right to interact with his 3-and-a-half-year-old daughter through video conferencing twice a month. The decision follows a legal dispute concerning access to the child born during the father and mother’s past live-in relationship.

The ruling, delivered by presiding officer of court no-4 Pawan Kumar Garg, stipulates that the father will be allowed to connect with his daughter via video calls on the third and fourth Sundays of each month, from 11am to 12 noon. Additionally, the court has mandated that the mother provide the father with monthly updates regarding their daughter’s education and health.

Advocate Sunil Sharma, representing the father, said that the couple originally met in Goa during the father’s visit from London in 2022. While they initially enjoyed a cordial relationship and welcomed their daughter on Dec 16, 2022, conflicts eventually emerged leading to strained relations. The father asserted that the mother began to sever his access to the child, denying him opportunities to meet or communicate with her despite his repeated requests.

In his petition to the family court, the father highlighted concerns that depriving the child of her father’s affection could have detrimental effects on her overall emotional and mental development. He emphasised the importance of maintaining a father-child connection, arguing that his role as a parent extends beyond mere biological ties.

The mother, however, contested the father’s claims, labelling his petition as “baseless” and asserting that he harboured intentions to take the child abroad.

After thorough deliberation and consideration of both parties’ arguments, the court concluded that a child should not be deprived of the love and affection of both parents, reinforcing the significance of nurturing emotional bonds within families.