Sahil Walia v. Nidhi Walia

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT

CHANDIGARH Date of Decision : 09.12.2024 Sahil Walia ... Petitioner(s)

Versus

Nidhi Walia ... Respondent(s) CORAM :

HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ALKA SARIN Present :

Petitioner - Sahil Walia - in person with Mr. Vikas Malik, Advocate.

Respondent - Nidhi Walia - in person with Mr. Manoj Kumar Rohilla, Advocate.

ALKA SARIN, J. (Oral) 1.

The parties are present in Court. There appears to be no chance of an amicable settlement between them.

2.

Pursuant to the order dated 18.11.2024 the petitioner-father met with the minor child from 03.00 pm to 04.00 pm on 23.11.2024 and 07.12.2024 in the Mediation and Conciliation Centre at District Courts, Chandigarh.

3.

Learned counsel for the petitioner would contend that the impugned order dated 19.03.2024 has been challenged on the ground that the petitioner-father has been given the right to meet the minor child only once in a month from 02.00 pm to 03.00 pm in the office of the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Chandigarh i.e. 3rd Saturday of every month and that being a father, the petitioner ought to have been allowed to meet the minor child more than once in a month.

-24.

Learned counsel for the respondent would contend that the child is apprehensive about meeting the petitioner-father and that pursuant to the order dated 18.11.2024 the minor child did meet the petitioner-father between 03.00 pm and 04.00 pm on 23.11.2024 and 07.12.2024 in the Mediation and Conciliation Centre at District Courts, Chandigarh. It is further the contention of the learned counsel that the minor child is studying in 5th Class in a reputed school in SAS Nagar (Mohali) and has 2nd and 4th Saturdays off from the school, while 1st and 3rd Saturdays are working Saturdays. It is further the contention of the learned counsel that the respondent-mother can bring the child to the Mediation and Conciliation Centre at District Courts, Chandigarh on every 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month to facilitate a meeting between the petitioner-father and the minor child.

5.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitionerfather would be satisfied. However, he prays that meeting time be increased from one hour to two hours.

6.

The minor child, on an earlier occasion when the Court had interacted with the minor child, had expressed his apprehension about meeting the petitioner-father. The minor child who is studying in 5th Class seems to have certain apprehensions which the Court has to be mindful of, hence this Court deems it appropriate to permit the petitioner-father to meet the minor child from 02.00 pm to 04.00 pm on 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month in the Mediation and Conciliation Centre at District Courts, Chandigarh under the supervision of a responsible person to be appointed by

-3the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Chandigarh. The said arrangement is being made only keeping in view the fact that the child has expressed his apprehension about meeting his father outside alone. 7.

Disposed off accordingly. Pending applications, if any, also stand disposed off.

( ALKA SARIN ) JUDGE NOTE: Whether speaking/non-speaking: Speaking 09.12.2024 Whether reportable: YES/NO