# Defendant/ v. Mange Ram - **Citation:** (2007) 3 ILRA 889 - **Court:** High Court of Judicature at Allahabad - **Decided:** 2007-08-16 - **Case number:** First Appeal From Order No. 3110 of 2003 - **Bench:** Prakash Krishna - **Source:** https://unisonlegal.in/judgment/allahabad-high-court/defendant-v-mange-ram-41137 - **Pages:** 3 ## Headnote Hindu Guardianship and Wards Act 1890Section -7-custody of minor child-after disappearance of the father-mother remarried-since 12 years the minor residing with his maternal uncle-claim by grandfather-allowed by the trail Court considering largest party holdings-but ignored the welfare of the minor-the grandfather never given any financial assistance-or gift at any occasion-minor getting proper education in English medium-no allegation of negligence in his maintenance-cannot be uprootedapplication for custody of minor by grandfather-rejected. Held: Para 8 At this juncture it was rightly pointed out by the appellant's counsel that not a single shell was ever shed by the respondent towards the maintenance of the minor. The facts as they stood today there is no justification to grant the relief claimed by the respondent to have the custody of minor Ashu. The welfare of minor is with the appellant no. 2 presently wherein he is happily passing off his childhood and getting proper education, fooding and-lodging with no complaint. ## Text 3 All] Smt. Sangeeta and another V. Mange Ram 889 emerged from sustaining findings of fact arrived at by the court after the appraisal of evidence. 8. In view of the above decisions, I am not inclined to interfere as no substantial question of law arises worth consideration in the instant appeal. The second appeal lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed. Cost on parties. --------- APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL SIDE DATED: ALLAHABAD 16.08.2007 BEFORE THE HON'BLE PRAKASH KRISHNA, J. First Appeal From Order No. 3110 of 2003 Smt. Sangeeta and another ...Defendant/Appellant Versus Mange Ram ...Respondent Counsel for the Appellant: Sri. B. Malik Counsel for the Respondent: Sri. A.K. Singh Sri. V.K. Singh Sri. K.C. Tripathi Hindu Guardianship and Wards Act 1890Section -7-custody of minor child-after disappearance of the father-mother remarried-since 12 years the minor residing with his maternal uncle-claim by grandfather-allowed by the trail Court considering largest party holdings-but ignored the welfare of the minor-the grandfather never given any financial assistance-or gift at any occasion-minor getting proper education in English medium-no allegation of negligence in his maintenance-cannot be uprootedapplication for custody of minor by grandfather-rejected. Held: Para 8 At this juncture it was rightly pointed out by the appellant's counsel that not a single shell was ever shed by the respondent towards the maintenance of the minor. The facts as they stood today there is no justification to grant the relief claimed by the respondent to have the custody of minor Ashu. The welfare of minor is with the appellant no. 2 presently wherein he is happily passing off his childhood and getting proper education, fooding and-lodging with no complaint. (Delivered by Hon'ble Prakash Krishna, J.) 1. This is an unfortunate litigation. The two parties are fighting for the custody of minor Ashu. The appellant No 1. is the mother; while the appellant No. 2. is the maternal uncle. The sole respondent is grandfather of the minor. The appellant No 1 was married with Brajveer Singh son of the sole respondent as per Hindu rites on 14th of March, 1994. The minor in question who is male child was born on 18th of April, 1995 out of this wedlock. For certain reasons the father and mother of the minor could not pull on well together and litigation started between them. Brajveer Singh, father of the minor is missing since 10th of June, 1998 and since then he has not returned home. A petition for divorce on the basis of cruelty being case No.787 of 1998 was instituted by Smt. Sangeeta, the appellant no.1 herein wherein an exparte decree dated 5th of March, 1999 has been passed. It has been stated that the minor is residing with his mother and the mother has been remarried on 18th of January, 1999 and the minor is residing with his maternal uncle, the appellant No.2 herein. 890 INDIAN LAW REPORTS ALLAHABAD SERIES [2007 2. In the year 2000 an application under section 7/8 of Guardianship and Ward Act 1890 was presented by the grandfather (Mange Ram) before the District Judge, Baghpat claiming the custody of the minor. The said application after contest has been allowed by the order under appeal 3. Heard the counsel for the parties and perused the record. The court below has proceeded to decide the application on comparing the financial status of the respective parties. It was found that the respondent herein has got 30 bighas agricultural land, while the appellant no.2 has got only 15 bighas agricultural land. The family of the sole respondent consists of himself, his wife and two sons. The mother has left the minor as she has been remarried and there is every likelihood that the second husband will discriminate in between his own issues and the minor in question. The court below was of the view that welfare of the minor would be better served if his grandfather, the sole respondent herein, is appointed legal guardian and is given custody of the minor. 4. No doubt, in such matters welfare of a minor is the paramount consideration. It is Impossible to catalogue exhaustively the factors which may contribute to the welfare of the child. Capacity of the custodian to supply the daily necessities such as food, clothing and shelter is the primary consideration. To facilitate the child to receive education and to inspire him to go to the school is also not less important. It Is not in dispute that presently the minor is residing with the appellant No.2. Earlier, he was with his natural guardian i.e. mother, the appellant no.1, herein. It appears, that after remarriage, the minor is residing with the appellant no.2 who happens to be his maternal uncle. There is some dispute with regard to the exact date of birth of the minor. Either it is 28th of April, 1995 as per version of the respondent but according to the appellants the exact date of birth is 29th of May, 1996. Without entering into the controversy about the exact date of birth, the fact remains that the minor is living in the family members of his maternal uncle for the last 11-12 years. He must have been grown up by now. It has been also pointed out, which has not been denied by the respondent, that the minor is getting proper education. He is studying in English Medium School Rishikul Vidyapith and was in third standard in the year 2003 when the appeal was filed. 5. There is no material on record to show that during this period of about 1112 years the grandfather of the minor in any manner has shown his concern with the welfare of the minor. The learned counsel for the respondent accepted that there is no material to show that the respondent has given any financial assistant or gift to the minor on the festivals or on any such occasions in any manner. The minor is residing with his parental uncle almost since birth and at this distance of time it is not appropriate to uproot him from there and to plant him at his grandfather's place. This may have negative impact on the health and mind of the minor specially when there is no such complaint that minor is not being looked after properly by the appellants. 6. The fact that the respondent no.1 happens to be grandfather of the minor is not in dispute but that fact alone will not tilt the balance in his favour in absence of 3 All] Anand Kumar Singh V. U.P.S.R.T.C. and others 891 other overt act on the part of the grandfather to show his concern with the welfare of the minor. 7. While judging the welfare of the minor the court below was very much influenced by the fact that the sole respondent has larger agricultural holding than that of the appellant No 2. This fact itself is not such a weighty circumstance which may entitle the respondent to have the custody of the minor. 8. At this juncture it was rightly pointed out by the appellant's counsel that not a single shell was ever shed by the respondent towards the maintenance of the minor. The facts as they stood today there is no justification to grant the relief claimed by the respondent to have the custody of minor Ashu. The welfare of minor is with the appellant no. 2 presently wherein he is happily passing off his childhood and getting proper education, fooding and-lodging with no complaint. 9. Viewed as above, the judgment and order of the court below cannot be sustained and the court below was not right in reaching to the conclusion that the welfare of the minor is with the respondent. 10. In the result, the appeal succeeds and is allowed. The order under appeal is set aside and the application filed by the respondent in Misc. Case No.49 of 2000 stands rejected. No order as to cost. --------- ORIGINAL JURISDICTION CIVIL SIDE DATED: ALLAHABAD 11.09.2007 BEFORE THE HON'BLE RAKESH TIWARI, J. Civil Misc. Writ Petition No. 43286 of 2007 Anand Kumar Singh ...Petitioner Versus State of U.P. and others ...Respondents Counsel for the Petitioner: Miss. Anuradha Sundaram Miss. Rashmi Tripathi Counsel for the Respondents: Sri Vivek Saran Constitution of India Act 226-Alternative remedy-petitioner a skilled mechanic having I.T.I. certificate-denied the promotion-but promoted unskilled person-disputed of facts-requires adjudication by summoning the record as well as the witnesses-not feasible for writ court to examine the witness and record oral and documentary evidencedismissed on alternative remedy. Held: Para 12 In my opinion, the question whether the petitioner was unfit or not for promotion and whether respondent nos. 4,5 and 6 were qualified for being promoted or not, are disputed questions of fact which require adjudication on the basis of oral and documentary evidence by the Labour Court as it is not feasible for this Court to record oral and documentary evidence under Article 226 of the Constitution and give findings of facts thereafter. (Delivered by Hon'ble Rakesh Tiwari, J.) 1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, the Standing counsel for the respondents and perused the record.