PIL to Supreme Court on shared Child Parenting
In matrimonial disputes, child becomes a tool for extortion, mental and financial blackmailing of men. After separation of husband and wife, child loses direct contact with both parents. Child custody could become a gruesome battle between husband and wife. In such litigations, children suffer the most. They need love and care from both parents- mother and father, but they have to suffer lack of parenting during their crucial phase of life from childhood till adolescence. In such cases, men pays for education, living expenses of child, even though it is living with its mother. Father fights to meet his child. Children become emotional cord to torture in matrimonial disputes. In India, men have started movement of shared parenting. They are demanding their right to visit and meet their kids.
SIFF has filed PIL in Supreme Court of India to reform laws about shared parenting, and joint custody of child. This will help to eliminate suffering of children who could not meet both parents. Efforts are made jointly by team of Advocate Roopenshu Pratap Singh and Kumar Ratan. They lead SIFF in northern part of the country. Supreme court has applauded and called this PIL as noble cause for the nation. Team have spend more than year to carry out research before filing PIL.
Hindu minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 and the Guardian and Wards Act, 1980 are currently used to deal with child custody cases. They are inadequate for good will of children. After this petition is filed, Bench of justices SA Bobde and BR Gavai have acknowledged this case and issued notice to Centre and looking for response to frame guidelines and amendment to existing laws. Reforms in existing laws would help to protect rights of children.