SURAT: The Surat district and sessions court has directed a man to use his visitation rights with his five-year-old daughter through virtual meeting as a physical meeting may not be in the interest of the child due to the coronavirus pandemic.
While delivering the verdict on Wednesday, the court observed that the biological father cannot be stopped from enjoying his legal right to meet his children.
The mother will have to arrange for the virtual meeting between the child and the father for one hour every Saturday.
The order was passed by additional district and sessions judge, A R Mallik, while hearing an application filed by 35-year-old man, seeking visitation rights for his five-year-old daughter.
The man, a resident of Adajan had married his wife (30) in 2014. In 2015, their daughter was born. However, the family life of the husband-wife duo was disturbed and they used to quarrel frequently.
In 2019 the couple decided to file for divorce in Surat’s family court. The man agreed to give the daughter’s custody to the mother. Following the mutual consent of both the parties, the court granted the divorce with the condition that the father will enjoy the visitation rights.
The daughter presently lives with her mother in Sayan in Olpaad taluka of Surat while the man runs a farsan (snack) shop in Adajan.
According to the man’s petition, his wife did not allow him to see their daughter whenever he visited her and thereby violated the court’s order. However, he was compelled to file a petition with the district and sessions court for the restoration of his visitation rights.
Advocate Trupti Thakkar, who appeared on behalf of the man said, “The woman was denying the visitation rights to the father, thereby keeping the daughter away from his love and affection. The district court observed that the biological father has the legal right to meet his children. Due to Covid-19, the father has been allowed to meet his daughter through video conference for one hour every Saturday.”