The Supreme Court criticized a slams mother for dragging her daughter into a parental conflict and appointed former Uttarakhand Chief Justice Ritu Bahri as mediator to resolve the custody dispute peacefully.
NEW DELHI: In a bitter child custody dispute, the Supreme Court of India has appointed former Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice Ritu Bahri as mediator to help the warring couple find an amicable solution.
The matter was heard on July 21, 2025, before a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, who observed that since the case involved family and emotional matters, mediation was the best course of action.
The Court formally recorded in its order:
“Taking into consideration that the dispute is a matrimonial dispute, we consider it appropriate to refer the parties to mediation.”
Further, the Bench noted:
“With the consent of parties, we appoint Hon’ble Ms. Justice Ritu Bahri, Former Chief Justice of High Court of Uttarakhand as Mediator. The Mediator shall consider all the issues between the parties. The fee of the learned Mediator would be decided by the Mediator in consultation with the learned counsel for the parties.”
Husband’s Contempt Plea and Allegations
The case reached the Supreme Court through a contempt petition filed by the husband, alleging that his visitation rights, granted earlier by a family court, were being violated.
Earlier, in September 2024, the apex court had directed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Chandigarh, to appoint a para-legal volunteer to ensure compliance with the father’s visitation rights.
During the latest hearing, Senior Advocate P.S. Patwalia, appearing for the husband, informed the Bench that the child had refused to meet her father under the influence of the mother.
The lawyer submitted that the daughter had even accused the father of harassing her mother, and that the mother had sought ₹1 crore, besides removing the father’s name from the school records.
Given the emotional nature of the matter, Patwalia argued that sending the parties for mediation would be more beneficial than imposing punishment on the mother. The counsel for the wife did not oppose this proposal, indicating her willingness to participate in mediation.
Supreme Court’s Strong Remarks
At this stage, the Chief Justice made sharp observations criticizing the mother’s conduct and the psychological impact it could have on the child.
CJI Gavai said:
“You are unnecessarily dragging your child, spoiling the career of your child, you are spoiling her mind… come back someday.”
The Court emphasized that involving children in marital battles causes lasting damage and should be avoided at all costs.
Mediation and Next Steps
With the consent of both parties, the Supreme Court appointed Justice Ritu Bahri as the mediator to facilitate a resolution between the couple. The matter will now come up for further consideration after eight weeks, by which time the Court expects progress through mediation.
This case once again highlights how the Supreme Court prioritizes the well-being of children and the use of mediation over confrontation in sensitive matrimonial and custody disputes.
Explanatory Table of Laws & Sections Mentioned
| Law / Authority | Relevant Section / Provision | Purpose / Description | How It Applies in This Case |
| Constitution of India | Article 142 | Empowers the Supreme Court to pass any decree or order necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it. | The Supreme Court used its broad discretionary powers to direct mediation and ensure the child’s welfare instead of merely punishing contempt. |
| Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 | Sections 2(b) & 12 | Defines “civil contempt” (willful disobedience of a court order) and provides punishment for contempt. | The husband filed a contempt petition under these provisions alleging violation of his visitation rights by the mother. |
| Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC) | Section 89 | Allows courts to refer disputes to mediation, arbitration, or conciliation for settlement. | The Supreme Court invoked this principle by appointing Justice Ritu Bahri as mediator to promote peaceful resolution. |
| Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 | Section 12 & related provisions | Provides for the constitution of District Legal Services Authorities (DLSA) to ensure access to justice through legal aid and para-legal volunteers. | The Court earlier directed the DLSA, Chandigarh, to appoint a para-legal volunteer to facilitate the father’s visitation rights. |
| Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 | Section 6 & 13 | Defines natural guardianship and prioritizes the child’s welfare as the paramount consideration in custody matters. | The Supreme Court reiterated that the child’s welfare is paramount, criticizing the mother for mentally influencing the child. |
| Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 | Section 26 | Empowers courts to pass interim orders for custody, maintenance, and education of minor children during matrimonial proceedings. | The underlying dispute involves custody issues connected with a matrimonial breakdown—hence Section 26 principles apply. |
| Supreme Court Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC) | Administrative framework (no specific section) | Institutional mechanism of the Supreme Court promoting mediation in family and matrimonial cases. | The Court’s appointment of Justice Ritu Bahri aligns with the MCPC’s objective to encourage non-adversarial resolution in family matters. |
| Judicial Precedents | Relevant Supreme Court rulings: – Roxann Sharma v. Arun Sharma (2015) 8 SCC 318 – Yashita Sahu v. State of Rajasthan (2020) 3 SCC 67 | These rulings emphasize that custody disputes should prioritize the child’s emotional well-being and parental alienation is a form of mental cruelty to the child. | The Court’s criticism of the mother—“You are spoiling your child’s mind”—reflects these precedents on psychological harm and parental alienation. |
Case Summary
| Field | Information |
| Case Title | [Names redacted] — Conmt. Pet. (C) Nos. 756-757/2024 in SLP(C) Nos. 2775-2776/2024 |
| Court | Supreme Court of India |
| Bench / Coram | Hon’ble the Chief Justice and Hon’ble Mr. Justice K. Vinod Chandran |
| Date of Hearing | 21 July 2025 |
| Type of Case | Contempt Petition (Child Custody / Matrimonial Dispute) |
| Mediation Appointed | Hon’ble Ms. Justice Ritu Bahri, Former Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court |
| Petitioner’s Counsel | Mr. P.S. Patwalia, Sr. Adv.; Mrs. T.S. Shanthi, Adv.; Ms. Sneha Irene Kachhap, Adv.; Mr. Amit J., Adv.; Mr. T.R.B. Sivakumar, AOR |
| Respondent’s Counsel | Ms. Anubha Agrawal, AOR |
| Key Direction | Parties referred to mediation to resolve all issues; mediator’s fee to be fixed by mutual consultation |
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