” For custody of children, the paramount consideration is the welfare and interest of the child and not the rights of the parents under a statute.” SC

While adjudicating about the custody of the minor children, in a judicial battle between husband and wife, in the matters of SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) Nos. 35468 & 35469 OF 2009 of the applicant wife Gayatri Bajaj, the Hon. Supreme Court of India has again emphasized upon the principles of welfare and interest of the child and has observed that “ In a matter relating to the custody of children the first and the paramount consideration is the welfare and interest of the child and not the rights of the parents under a statute. Even the statues, namely, the Guardianship and Wards Act, 1890 and Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 make it clear that the welfare of the child is a predominant consideration. In a matter of this nature, particularly, when father and mother fighting their case without reference to the welfare of the child, a heavy duty is cast upon the Court to exercise its discretion judiciously bearing in mind the welfare of the child as paramount consideration.