The document discusses international parental child abduction and the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The convention seeks to ensure the prompt return of children abducted from one country to another by parents. However, some argue that acceding to the convention could work against the interests of Indian women married abroad by limiting courts' ability to consider the welfare of the child in custody battles. The document examines relevant Indian laws and cases, and concludes by recommending that India ratify the Hague Convention according to Law Commission recommendations.
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Parental child abduction
2. Removal of a child by one parent from one
country to another without the approval of the
other parent constitutes the
International Parental Child Abduction
3. Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of
International Child Abduction in 1980
To ensure prompt return of the children abducted
from any Country by their Parents
Return of the Child to the Habitual Residence
Children under the age of 16 Years
Remedies Wrongful Removal or Retention
Enhance the International Recognition of Right of
Custody
88 signatories as of August, 2012
4. Convention will work against the interests of
Indian women married abroad
No need to accede to the Hague Convention
as it is already a signatory to the 1989 United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
Article 16 bars the court of member country
from looking into the welfare of the child
..Mothers do not enjoy legal rights in a foreign
country in majority of cases and end up losing
custodial battles. A senior Officer at Law
Ministry to HT
5. The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 Section 26
The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956
Section 4(a)
The Guardians and Wards Act, 1890
Case Laws
Dhanwanti Joshi v. Madhav Unde
Mohinder Gahun v. State of NCT of Delhi
6. 218th Law Commission Report (2009)
recommends for the Ratification
Courts have not followed uniform Pattern and
absence of progressive development of the
subject
Induces significant physical and Emotional
suffering on child
India not being a signatory causes a Negative
influence on a foreign Judge deciding the
custody of a child in relation to India
7. Ratify the Hague Convention as per the Law
Commission recommendations
Legislate more effective Laws in case of
divorce settlements avoiding the total award of
custody for a singe parent
Off-Court settlements have to be encouraged
Mediation & Arbitration are the better ways of
handling the issue