Madhya Pradesh HC grants child custody to policewoman mother

The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has awarded custody of a three-year-old boy to his mother, a police constable, ruling that the child's best interest is paramount. The division bench of Justice Subodh Abhyankar and Justice Alok Awasthi rejected the argument that the mother's job in the police department would prevent her from caring for the child. The court noted that since both parents have similar duty hours, the mother has an advantage as she can take the child to her workplace when needed.

The custody dispute arose from an estranged couple, both police constables, amid divorce proceedings. The mother had approached the High Court through a habeas corpus petition after a family court arrangement gave custody to the father, with the mother having visiting rights on Saturdays and Sundays. The High Court reversed this, granting custody to the mother. The father has been given visiting rights every Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.

The arrangement will remain in place until a final order is passed by a competent court, including the family court where the divorce case is pending.