The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Court warns minor girl of contempt action

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Thursday, Jan 20, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Court warns minor girl of contempt action

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, JAN. 19. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court today warned a minor girl, a party in a habeas corpus petition heard by the court, for her attempt to persuade the court through a letter to one of the judges in a Division Bench.

The Bench, comprising Justice P.D. Dinakaran and Justice S. Ashok Kumar, cautioned the girl that her act would tantamount to contempt of court and that she could be punished for it. However, the judges later accepted her apology and directed the court officer to destroy the letter. The husband of the minor girl had filed a petition seeking custody of her since she was pregnant. On the other hand, the girl's parents opposed the pleaand sought custody of the girl, though they would not accept her husband.

When the Bench asked the girl, she refused to live with her parents, alleging that they attempted to kill her and the baby in her womb by poisoning her glass of fruit juice when she was in a women's home as per the earlier directions of the court. She apprehended danger to her life from them.

Since the law stands clear that the custody of a minor can be handed over only to the parents and not anyone else, at the same time considering the fact that she is pregnant and unwilling to live with her parents, the Bench directed the girl to continue in the home till she attains 18 years of age on May 24, 2005. Thereafter, the registry was directed to post the matter immediately before the court for final disposal.

Her parents and husband were allowed to visit the girl once a week and both directed to pay her medical expenses jointly. The Bench also made it clear that she would not be allowed to take food brought from outside without the approval of the home warden.

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Tamil Nadu