Supreme Court Allows Parents Having Visitation Rights To Maintain Contact With Children Via Electronic Means During Lockdown.

The Supreme Court was hearing the grievance of the petitioner that because of lock­down, the children are unable to interact with their parents even though they have visitation rights for the purpose.

Supreme Court in its order dated 30.04.2020 in case titled Tanuj Dhawan Vs. Court In Its Own Motion has directed that Parents Having Visitation Rights To Maintain Contact With Children Via Electronic Means During Lockdown.

In India, courts mostly award custody of minor children to mothers while granting visitation and vocational rights to fathers in a soured marriage. 

A PIL in the Supreme Court on Thursday sought resolution of the difficulty faced by the parent who has not got custody of children.

Petitioner V Srinivas Rao requested a bench of Justices N V Ramana, Sanjay K Kaul and BR Gavai to lay down guidelines for many parents who are unable to meet and interact with their children because of the lockdown. The bench, which was hearing the PIL through video-conferencing, told the petitioner, "if you have visitation rights, we suggest that electronic contact instead of physical visits can be substituted in these times."

The bench said estranged couples could move the family court to work out a arrangement to permit virtual meetings.

Read Full order below:-