Law Commission Report No. 218- Need to Accede to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980)

8/19/2019 Law Commission Report No. 218- Need to Accede to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International C…

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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

LAWCOMMISSIONOF

INDIA

Need to accede to the Hague Convention onthe Civil A!ect o" Inte#national ChildA$duction %&'()*

Report No. 218

Ma#ch +))'

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LAW COMMISSION OF INDIA%RE,ORT NO- +&(*

Need to accede to the Hague Convention on theCivil A!ect o" Inte#national Child A$duction

%&'()*

Fo#.a#ded to the /nion Minite# "o# La. and0utice1 Minit#2 o" La. and 0utice1 Gove#n3ent o" India $2 D#- 0utice AR- La4h3anan1 Chai#3an1La. Co33iion o" India1 on the 5)th da2 o" Ma#ch1 +))'-

2

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The &(th La. Co33iion .a contituted "o# a!e#iod o" th#ee 2ea# "#o3 &t Se!te3$e#1 +))6 $2O#de# No- A-78)&+9&9+))6:Ad3n-III %LA* dated the

&6th Octo$e#1 +))61 iued $2 the Gove#n3ent o" India1 Minit#2 o" La. and 0utice1 De!a#t3ent o" Legal A""ai#1 Ne. Delhi-

The La. Co33iion conit o" the Chai#3an1 theMe3$e#:Sec#eta#21 one "ull:ti3e Me3$e# and even!a#t:ti3e Me3$e#-

Chai#3an

Hon;$le D#- 0utice AR- La4h3anan

Me3$e#:Sec#eta#2

D#-


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The La. Co33iion i located in ILI


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The tet o" thi Re!o#t i availa$le on the Inte#net

at?htt!?99...-la.co33iiono"india-nic-in

B Gove#n3ent o" IndiaLa. Co33iion o" India

The tet in thi docu3ent %ecluding theGove#n3ent Logo* 3a2 $e #e!#oduced "#ee o" cha#ge in an2 "o#3at o# 3ediu3 !#ovided that it i#e!#oduced accu#atel2 and not ued in a 3ileadingcontet- The 3ate#ial 3ut $e ac4no.ledged aGove#n3ent co!2#ight and the title o" the docu3ent!eci"ied-

An2 enui#ie #elating to thi Re!o#t hould $e

add#eed to the Me3$e#:Sec#eta#2 and ent eithe# $2 !ot to the La. Co33iion o" India1 +nd Floo#1ILI


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D.O. No. 6(3)/136/2007-LC (LS) 30th

March, 2009

Dear Dr. Bhardwaj Ji,

Subject: Need to accede to the Hage Co!"e!t#o! o!

the C#"#$ %&'ect& o !ter!at#o!a$ Ch#$d %*dct#o! (19+0)

a orard#!g here#th the 21+th e'ort o the LaCo#&o! o !d#a o! the a*o"e &*ect.

Stat#&t#c& &ho that the !*er o d#"orce ca&e& a!d c&tod

d#&'te& ha& #!crea&ed e"er !ce the ad"e!t o g$o*a$#at#o! a!dtech!o$og#ca$ de"e$o'e!t $ead#!g to a "er *& $#e-&t$e a!d orc$tre. he #!ter!at#o!a$ 'are!ta$ ch#$d a*dct#o!/ch#$d reo"a$ #!d&#t& root here.

!ter!at#o!a$ 'are!ta$ ch#$d a*dct#o! or reo"a$ ca! *ede#!ed a& the reo"a$ o a ch#$d * o!e 'are!t ro o!e co!tr toa!other #thot the a''ro"a$ o the other 'are!t. Ch#$d reo"a$, #!th#& co!te4t, e!co'a&&e& a! #!terere!ce #th the 'are!ta$ r#ght& or r#ght to co!tact #th the reo"ed ch#$d. he&e act& * a 'are!t he!*roght *eore a cort o $a ha"e #! the 'a&t created co!dera*$eao!t o co!o! &'ec##ca$$ #! the area o co'ete!ce o cort&

#th regard to r#&d#ct#o!a$ a&'ect&. he #!ter!at#o!a$ co!#t acted to &o$"e th#& cr#& *

ado't#!g o! Octo*er 25, 19+0 a! !ter!at#o!a$ Co!"e!t#o! o! theC#"#$ %&'ect& o !ter!at#o!a$ Ch#$d %*dct#o! h#ch e!tered #!toorce o! Dece*er 1, 19+3.

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Ma! State& o the or$d (+1) ha"e *ecoe g!ator to th#&Co!"e!t#o!. Soe State& $#e %&tra$#a ha"e *roght a*otae!de!t& #! the#r a#$ $a $eg#&$at#o!& to ae the HageCo!"e!t#o! o'erat#"e #! the#r !at#o!. !d#a, hoe"er, #& !ot ag!ator to th#& Co!"e!t#o!. he t#e ha& coe or &oe#!ter!at#o!a$ 'er&'ect#"e #! th#& regard. he act o !d#a !ot *e#!g ag!ator to the Hage Co!"e!t#o! o! the C#"#$ %&'ect& o !ter!at#o!a$ Ch#$d %*dct#o! a ha"e a !egat#"e #!$e!ce o! aore#g! dge ho #& dec#d#!g o! the c&tod o a ch#$d. #thot thegara!tee aorded * the Hage Co!"e!t#o! to the eect that thech#$d #$$ *e &#t$ retr!ed to the co!tr o or#g#!, the ore#g! dgea *e re$cta!t to g#"e 'er#&o! or the ch#$d to tra"e$ to !d#a. %&a $og#ca$ '&hot, !d#a &ho$d *ecoe a g!ator to the HageCo!"e!t#o! a!d th#& #$$, #! tr!, *r#!g the 'ro&'ect o ach#e"#!g the

retr! to !d#a o ch#$dre! ho ha"e the#r hoe& #! !d#a.

he Co#&o! #& o the "#e that !d#a &ho$d ee' 'ace a!dcha!ge accord#!g to the cha!g#!g !eed& o the &oc#et. heCo#&o!, thereore, recoe!d& that the o"er!e!t aco!der that !d#a &ho$d *ecoe a g!ator to the HageCo!"e!t#o! h#ch #$$ #! tr! *r#!g the 'ro&'ect& o ach#e"#!g theretr! to !d#a o ch#$dre! ho ha"e the#r hoe& #! !d#a.

#th ar regard&,

8or& !cere$,

(Dr. %. La&ha!a!)

Dr. H. . harda,

:!#o! M#!#&ter or La a!d ;&t#ce,o"er!e!t o !d#aSha&tr# haa!,Ne De$h#-110 001.

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Need to accede to the Hague Convention on theCivil A!ect o" Inte#national Child A$duction

%&'()*

$able of +o'te'ts

=NON 12-20

. =COMM=ND%ON 21

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I- INTROD/CTION

1.1 O#!g to the ad"e!t o tech!o$og #th the e&ta*$#&he!t o

eaer a!d eco!o#c or& o tra"e$ a!d co!#cat#o!, !at#o!a$*o!dar#e& ha"e #!crea!g$ *ecoe #rre$e"a!t or the 'r'o&e& o

c$tra$ e4cha!ge&.1

1.2 he g$o*e ha& &hr#!ed to a! e4te!t that c$tra$ ta*oo& do !ot

ho$d *ac a!*od to go #! &earch o greater ach#e"ee!t&. h#&

*r#!g& #! a 'acage o *oth dera*$e a!d !dera*$e eect&. ="er

e'$oe!t o''ort!#t e&'ec#a$$ the o!e& e&ta*$#&hed !der the

oder! tech!o$og#ca$ *re$$a coe& #th a $ot o re&'o!*#$#t a!d

#!a!c#a$ *e!e#t& #th the atereect *e#!g #!crea!g #!de'e!de!ce

o #!d#"#da$& a!d ego #!$at#o!&, h#ch 'a"e& the a or !dera*$e

a#$#a$ 'ro*$e&.2

1.3 =ar$#er &'o&a$ a!d #!ter'are!ta$ co!$#ct ere '$ e?ated

#th d#"orce, or #th "ar#o& ea&re& o ar#ta$ d#&&at#&act#o!,

ho&t#$e att#tde&, a!d 'hca$ aggre&o!. h#& a#$re to d#&t#!g#&h

ao!g t'e& o co!$#ct ha& co!o!ded the de*ate a*ot the e4te!t

to h#ch d#ere!t #!d& o d#"orce co!$#ct are !ora$ a!d !ct#o!a$.

D#"orce co!$#ct ha& at $ea&t three #'orta!t d#e!o!& h#ch &ho$d

*e co!dered he! a&&e&!g #!c#de!ce a!d #t& eect& o! ch#$dre!.

@#r&t, co!$#ct ha& a domain dimension, h#ch ca! reer to

d#&agreee!t& o"er a &er#e& o d#"orce #&&e& &ch a& #!a!c#a$

&''ort, 'ro'ert, d#"#o!, c&tod, a!d acce&& to the ch#$dre!, or to

1 Dr. Justice AR. Lakshmanan, International hil! A"!uction # $arental Remo%al &2''8( 48 IJIL 4272 I"i!.

)

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"a$e& a!d ethod& o ch#$d-rear#!g. Seco!d, co!$#ct ha& a tactics

dimension, h#ch ca! reer to the a!!er #! h#ch d#"orc#!g co'$e&

#!ora$$ tr to re&o$"e d#&agreee!t& or #t ca! reer to a& #!

h#ch d#"orce d#&'te& are ora$$ re&o$"ed * the &e o attor!e!egot#at#o!, ed#at#o!, $#t#gat#o!, or ar*#trat#o! * a dge. h#rd,

co!$#ct ha& a! attitudinal dimension, reerr#!g to the degree o

!egat#"e eot#o!a$ ee$#!g or ho&t#$#t d#rected * d#"orc#!g 'art#e&

toard& each other, h#ch a *e co"ert$ or o"ert$ e4're&&ed.3

1.A Stat#&t#c& &ho that the !*er o d#"orce ca&e& a!d c&tod

d#&'te& ha& #!crea&ed e"er !ce the ad"e!t o g$o*a$#at#o! a!d

tech!o$og#ca$ de"e$o'e!t $ead#!g to a "er *& $#e-&t$e a!d or

c$tre. he #!ter!at#o!a$ 'are!ta$ ch#$d a*dct#o!/ch#$d reo"a$ #!d&

#t& root here.A

1.5 !ter!at#o!a$ 'are!ta$ ch#$d a*dct#o! or reo"a$ ca! *e

de#!ed a& the reo"a$ o a ch#$d * o!e 'are!t ro o!e co!tr toa!other #thot the a''ro"a$ o the other 'are!t. Ch#$d reo"a$, #!

th#& co!te4t, e!co'a&&e& a! #!terere!ce #th the 'are!ta$ r#ght& or

r#ght to co!tact #th the reo"ed ch#$d. he&e act& * a 'are!t he!

*roght *eore a cort o $a ha"e #! the 'a&t created co!dera*$e

ao!t o co!o! &'ec##ca$$ #! the area o co'ete!ce o cort&

#th regard to r#&d#ct#o!a$ a&'ect&.5

1.6 *he international communit+ acte! to sol%e this crisis "+ a!otin- on

cto"er 25, 1)8' an International on%ention on the i%il Asects o/

3 I"i!.4 I"i!.5 I"i!.

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International hil! A"!uction 0hich entere! into /orce on Decem"er 1,

1)83. *his on%ention seeks to rotect chil!ren /rom harm/ul e//ects o/

a"!uction an! retention across international "oun!aries "+ ro%i!in- a

roce!ure to "rin- a"out their romt return. *he main o"ects o/ the

on%ention are

a) to &ecre the 'ro't retr! o ch#$dre! ro!g$$

reo"ed to or reta#!ed #! a! Co!tract#!g StateB a!d

*) to e!&re that r#ght& o c&tod a!d o acce&& !der

the $a o o!e Co!tract#!g State are eect#"e$

re&'ected #! the other Co!tract#!g State&.6

1.7 Ma! State& o the or$d (+1) ha"e *ecoe g!ator to th#&

Co!"e!t#o!. Soe State& $#e %&tra$#a ha"e *roght a*ot

ae!de!t& #! the#r a#$ $a $eg#&$at#o!& to ae the Hage

Co!"e!t#o! o'erat#"e #! the#r !at#o!. !d#a, hoe"er, #& !ot a

g!ator to th#& Co!"e!t#o!.7

6 *he a-ue on%ention on the i%il Asects o/ International hil! A"!uction &1)8'(, Article 17 ura note 1

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II- THE HAG/E CONVENTION

2.1 he Hage Co!"e!t#o! $a& do! that, he! a cort ha&

r#&d#ct#o! o"er a ch#$d, the #r&t ?e&t#o! to deter#!e #& hether the

Hage Co!"e!t#o! a''$#e& to the ca&e. o co!d#t#o!& &t *e

&at#&#ed *eore the Co!"e!t#o! a''$#e&

(a) the ch#$d &t *e !der 16 ear& o ageB a!d

(*) the ch#$d &t ha"e *ee! ha*#ta$$ rede!t #! a

Co!"e!t#o! co!tr #ed#ate$ *eore a! *reach o

c&tod or acce&& r#ght&.+

2.2 ! Cooper and Casey 9, #t a& he$d that a ch#$d ca! ha"e o!$

o!e '$ace o ha*#ta$ rede!ce h#ch &ho$d *e deter#!ed *

oc!g o! the ch#$d& 'a&t e4'er#e!ce a!d !ot o! #t& or #t& 'are!t&

#!te!t#o!&.

2.3 he Hage Co!"e!t#o! #& e4're&&$ #!te!ded to e!ha!ce the

#!ter!at#o!a$ recog!#t#o! o r#ght& o c&tod a!d acce&& ar#!g #! the

'$ace o ha*#ta$ rede!ce, a!d to e!&re that a! ch#$d ro!g$$

reo"ed or reta#!ed ro that '$ace #& 'ro't$ retr!ed (%rt#c$e 1).

! o&t ca&e&, thereore, the cort& o*$#gat#o! to act #! the *e&t

#!tere&t& o the ch#$d #& d#&'$aced a& a co!derat#o! *ear#!g o! ho

#& to ha"e care or co!tro$ o the ch#$d. he Hage Co!"e!t#o!

8 ura note 6, Article 4) 1))5 18 am LR 433

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create& ce!tra$ athor#t#e& throghot the Co!"e!t#o! co!tr#e& to

trace a! !$a$$ reo"ed ch#$d a!d &ecre #t& retr!. t #&

#'orta!t to co!der hat 'r#!c#'$e& a!d r$e& deter#!e hether a

ch#$d #& or #& !ot to *e retr!ed to a Co!"e!t#o! co!tr. heCo!"e!t#o! a!date& retr! o the ch#$d o!$ he! there ha& *ee! a

ro!g$ reo"a$ or rete!t#o! o a ch#$d ro a Co!"e!t#o! co!tr

(%rt#c$e 12). ! &ecr#!g r#ght& o acce&&, the o$$o#!g #&&e& &ho$d

*e co!dered

• ro!g$ reo"a$ or rete!t#o!B

• e4c&a*$e reo"a$ or rete!t#o!B a!d

• acce&&.10

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ade #th#! o!e ear o &ch reo"a$ or rete!t#o!, the cort &t

order the retr! o the ch#$d, herea& # th#& #& do!e ater o!e ear,

the cort &t a$&o order the retr! o the ch#$d !$e&& #t #& &at#&#ed

that the ch#$d ha& &ett$ed #!to #t& !e e!"#ro!e!t.11

=EC:S%L= =MO>%L O ==NON

2.5 here are a$&o &oe gro!d& h#ch e!a*$e the reo"a$ or

rete!t#o! o the ch#$d to *e e4c&ed (vide %rt#c$e& 12, 13 a!d 20) a!d

the&e are

&i( Alicant not e?ercisin- custo!ial ri-hts @ *he ourt can re/use to or!er

the return o/ the chil! i/ the alicant 0as not actuall+ e?ercisin- ri-hts o/

custo!+ 0hen the chil! 0as remo%e! or /irst retaine!.

(##) Co!&e!t to or &*&e?e!t ac?#e&ce!ce F he order or the retr!o the ch#$d ca! *e re&ed # the a''$#ca!t had co!&e!ted to or

&*&e?e!t$ ac?#e&ced #! the reo"a$ or rete!t#o!. h#& co!&e!t or

ac?#e&ce!ce a *e e4're&&ed or #!erred ro co!dct #!

c#rc&ta!ce& #! h#ch d#ere!t co!dct #ght *e e4'ected # there

a& !o co!&e!t or ac?#e&ce!ce.

&iii( Risk to the chil! @ *he ourt ma+ re/use a return i/ there is a -ra%e risk

that the return o/ the chil! to the countr+ in 0hich it ha"ituall+ resi!e!

imme!iatel+ "e/ore the remo%al or retention 0oul! e?ose the chil! to

11 I"i!.

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h+sical or s+cholo-ical harm or other0ise lace the chil! in an intolera"le

situation.

&i%( hil!s o"ection @ *he ourt ma+ re/use to or!er return i/ a chil!, 0ho

has o"taine! an a-e an! !e-ree o/ maturit+ at 0hich it is aroriate to take

account o/ the chil!s %ie0s, o"ects to the return. It shoul! "e an emhatic

o"ection an! not a mere re/erence to remain 0here it is.

&%( $rotection o/ ri-hts an! /ree!oms @ *he ourt ma+ re/use to or!er return

i/ it 0oul! "e contrar+ to the rotection o/ human ri-hts an! /un!amental

/ree!oms.

("#) =4'#r o o!e ear F he a''$#cat#o! or retr! a& ade ore

tha! o!e ear ater a ro!g$ reo"a$ or rete!t#o! a!d the ch#$d

&ett$ed #!to #t& !e e!"#ro!e!t.12

%CC=SS

2.6 he Hage Co!"e!t#o! doe& !ot g#"e r#ght& o acce&& e#ther

the #'orta!ce or atte!t#o! *t #t de"ote& to r#ght& o c&tod. t

de#!e& Gr#ght& o acce&& a& #!c$d#!g Gthe r#ght to tae a ch#$d or a

$##ted 'er#od o t#e to a '$ace other tha! the ch#$d& ha*#ta$

rede!ce Ivide %rt#c$e 5(*)J. he Hage Co!"e!t#o! doe& !ot

#'o&e a! &'ec##c dt o! a cort #! a Co!"e!t#o! co!tr #!

re$at#o! to r#ght& o acce&& a!d #t, thereore, a''ear& that the

12 I"i!.

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?e&t#o! o acce&& &ho$d thereore *e dec#ded #th reere!ce to the

*e&t #!tere&t& o the ch#$d a& a 'arao!t co!derat#o!.13

2.7 !d#a #& !ot a g!ator to the Hage Co!"e!t#o!. heS'ree Cort ha& o*&er"ed #! the ca&e o Sumedha Nagpal v.

State of Delhi 1A a& !der

GNo dec#o! * a! cort ca! re&tore the *roe! hoe or g#"ea ch#$d the care a!d 'rotect#o! o *oth dt#$ 'are!t&. No corte$coe& &ch 'ro*$e& or ee$& at ea&e #! dec#d#!g the.t a dec#o! there &t *e, a!d #t ca!!ot *e o!e re'g!a!tto !ora$ co!ce't& o a#$ a!d arr#age. he *ac !#t o &oc#et #& the a#$ a!d that arr#age create& the o&t

#'orta!t re$at#o! #! $#e, h#ch #!$e!ce& ora$#t a!dc#"#$#at#o! o 'eo'$e, tha! a! other #!&t#tt#o!. Dr#!g #!a!ca!d #'re&o!a*$e age, the care a!d arth o *oth the'are!t& are re?#red or the e$are o the ch#$d.15

2.+ % ca&e $a &td #$$ de'#ct a c$ear '#ctre #! th#& regard. he

S'ree Cort #! Smt. Surinder Kaur Sandhu v. Harbax Singh

Sandhu16 a!d Mrs. li!abeth Dinsha" v. #rvand M. Dinsha" 17

e4erc#&ed &ar r#&d#ct#o! #! retr!#!g the #!or ch#$dre! to the

co!tr o the#r 'are!t. ! a $ater ca&e o Dhan"anti $oshi v. Madhav

%nde&' , the S'ree Cort o*&er"ed that the order o the ore#g!

cort #$$ o!$ *e o!e o the act& h#ch &t *e tae! #!to

co!derat#o! h#$e dea$#!g #th ch#$d c&tod atter& a!d !d#a

*e#!g a co!tr h#ch #& !ot a g!ator to the Hage Co!"e!t#o!,

13 I"i!.14 J* 2''' &7( 45'15 I"i!., a-e 45316 AIR 1)84 122417 AIR 1)87 3

18 &1))8( 1 112

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the $a #& that the Cort #th#! ho&e r#&d#ct#o! the ch#$d #& reo"ed

#$$ co!der the ?e&t#o! o! er#t& *ear#!g the e$are o the ch#$d

a& o 'arao!t #'orta!ce. t a& #! th#& ca&e the S'ree Cort

cha!ged the ear$#er "#e a!d d#d !ot e4erc#&e &ar r#&d#ct#o! #!retr!#!g ch#$dre! to #t& 'are!t a!d o*&er"ed that the e$are a!d

*e&t #!tere&t o the ch#$d or ch#$dre! &ho$d *e o 'arao!t

co!derat#o!. h#& o*&er"at#o! * the S'ree Cort a& o$$oed

#! a $ater dec#o! * the S'ree Cort #! the ca&e o Sarita

Sharma v. Sushil Sharma19. ! 200A, the S'ree Cort, #! the ca&e

o Sahiba #li v. State of Maharashtra() dec$#!ed to gra!t the c&tod

o her ch#$dre! to the other *t at the &ae t#e #&&ed d#rect#o!&

or "#tat#o! r#ght& #! the #!tere&t a!d e$are o the #!or ch#$dre!.

! a!other ca&e o Kumar *. $ahgirdar v. Chethana +amatheertha(&1

the S'ree Cort cae to the co!c$o! that a ea$e ch#$d o

gro#!g age !eed& co'a! ore o her other co'ared to the

ather a!d rearr#age o the other #& !ot a d#&?a$##cat#o! #!

&aegard#!g #!tere&t o the ch#$d. @rther, #! a rece!t ca&e o ,aul

Mohinder -ahun v. State of NC of Delhi (( the De$h# H#gh Cort

re&ed to gra!t c&tod o the ch#$d to the ather a!d o*&er"ed that

the ?e&t#o! o co!$#ct o $a& a!d r#&d#ct#o!& &ho$d tae a *ac

&eat #! 'reere!ce to hat $#e& #! the #!tere&t o the #!or.

2.9 ! a rece!t dec#o! dated March 3, 2006 o the H#gh Cort o

o*a, at oa, the Cort dec$#!ed to #&&e a r#t o habeas corpus

there* re!g the c&tod o a g#r$ ch#$d to her other h#$e

1) J* 2''' &2( 2582' 2''4 &1( LR 21221 2''4 &1( LR 46822 2''5 &1( LR 428

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re$egat#!g the 'art#e& to !ora$ c#"#$ 'roceed#!g& #! oa or a

dec#o! o! the 'o#!t o the c&tod o the ch#$d #thot d#&tr*#!g the

c&tod #th the ather #! oa. he H#gh Cort c$ear$ dec$#!ed the

retr! o the ch#$d to re$a!d #! e4erc#&e o #t& r#t r#&d#ct#o! a!d he$dthat th#& ?e&t#o! re?#re& a!a$& o d#&'ted ?e&t#o! o act&.23

2.10 !d#a! $a& that dea$ #th the 'r#!c#'$e& o c&tod o ch#$dre!

are !ot too a!. o !ae a e

• he H#!d Marr#age %ct, 1955

• he H#!d M#!or#t a!d ard#a!&h#' %ct, 1956

• he ard#a!& a!d ard& %ct, 1+90

2.11 Sect#o! 26 o the H#!d Marr#age %ct, 1955, &tate& that a cort

ca! 'a&& order& a!d ae &ch 'ro"#o!& #! the decree #! a!

'roceed#!g& !der the %ct #th re&'ect to the c&tod, a#!te!a!ce

a!d edcat#o! o #!or ch#$dre! 'o! a! a''$#cat#o! or that 'r'o&e

a& e4'ed#t#o&$ a& 'o&*$e.

2.12 Sect#o! A(a) o the H#!d M#!or#t a!d ard#a!&h#' %ct, 1956

de#!e& G#!or to ea! Ga 'er&o! ho ha& !ot reached the age 1+

ear&. %!d, !der the %ct, the c&tod o a ch#$d #& g#"e! to a!

'er&o!, *e #t the ch#$d& !atra$ 'are!t& or gard#a! (a''o#!ted * the

cort) #th the 'r#e #'orta!ce g#"e! to the e$are o the ch#$d. %

$a!dar ca&e that dec#ded the &ae a& -itha Hariharan v.

+eserve /an0 of 1ndia.(2

23 =an!+ Jane ollins %. James =ichael ollins, (2006) 2 HLR 446 24 &1)))( 2 228

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2.13 he H#gh Cort * a o the r#t o habeas corpus ca! order

c&tod o a #!or at the *ehe&t o a 'are!t a''$#!g or the &ae,

#th 'redo#!a!t oc& '$aced o! the e$are o the ch#$d.25

2.1A ! Dhan"anti $oshi v. Madhav %nde(3 4 the S'ree Cort

reerred to the Hage Co!"e!t#o! o! the C#"#$ %&'ect& o

!ter!at#o!a$ Ch#$d %*dct#o! a!d o*&er"ed a& o$$o&

B32. In this connection, it is necessar+ to re/er to the a-ueon%ention o/ 1)8' on Ci%il Asects o/ International hil!A"!uctionC. As o/ to!a+, a"out 45 countries are arties to this

on%ention. In!ia is not +et a si-nator+. ;n!er the on%ention, an+chil! "elo0 16 +ears 0ho ha! "een C0ron-/ull+C remo%e! or retaine!

in another contractin- tate, coul! "e returne! "ack to the countr+/rom 0hich the chil! ha! "een remo%e!, "+ alication to a centralauthorit+. ;n!er Article 16 o/ the on%ention, i/ in the rocess, theissue -oes "e/ore a court, the on%ention rohi"its the court /rom-oin- into the merits o/ the 0el/are o/ the chil!. Article 12 reuiresthe chil! to "e sent "ack, "ut i/ a erio! o/ more than one +ear haslase! /rom the !ate o/ remo%al to the !ate o/ commencement o/ the

rocee!in-s "e/ore the court, the chil! 0oul! still "e returne! unless

it is !emonstrate! that the chil! is no0 settle! in its ne0 en%ironment.Article 12 is su"ect to Article 13 an! a return coul! "e re/use! i/ it

0oul! e?ose the chil! to h+sical or s+cholo-ical harm or other0ise lace the chil! in an intolera"le osition or i/ the chil! isuite mature an! o"ects to its return. In


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in the interests o/ the chil! an! its romt return is /or its 0el/are, ase?laine! in L., Re. As recentl+ as 1))6#1))7, it has "een hel! in $&A minor( &hil! A"!uction 9on#on%ention ountr+(, Re "+ar!, L.J. 1))6 urrent La0 Fear Gook, . 165#166 that in!eci!in- 0hether to or!er the return o/ a chil! 0ho has "een a"!ucte!/rom his or her countr+ o/ ha"itual resi!ence ## 0hich 0as not a art+to the a-ue on%ention, 1)8', ## the courtsH o%erri!in-

consi!eration must "e the chil!Hs 0el/are. *here is no nee! /or theJu!-e to attemt to al+ the ro%isions o/ Article 13 o/ theon%ention "+ or!erin- the chil!Hs return unless a -ra%e risk o/ harm0as esta"lishe!. ee also A &A minor( &A"!uction 9on#on%entionountr+( Re, *he *imes 3#7#)7 "+ ar!, L.J. &A( &uote! inurrent La0, Au-ust 1))7, . 13. *his ans0ers the contentionrelatin- to remo%al o/ the chil! /rom ;A.

2.15 @ro the a*o"e, #t ca! *e o*&er"ed that, the !d#a! Cort&

h#$e dec#d#!g ca&e& 'erta#!#!g to #!or ch#$dre! ha"e !ot o$$oed a

!#or 'atter!. here a$&o #& a! a*&e!ce o 'rogre&"e

de"e$o'e!t #! the &*ect. &oe atter& are dec#ded #th 'r#e

#'orta!ce '$aced o! the e$are o the ch#$d, &oe are *a&ed o! the

tech!#ca$#t#e& o "ar#o& 'ro"#o!& o $a a!d r#&d#ct#o!a$ t#&. he

rea&o! c#ted or th#& ca! *e the a*&e!ce o a! $a that go"er!& th#&

a&'ect. h#& o!$ #$$ aect the co!d#t#o! *oth 'hca$ a!d

eot#o!a$ o the ch#$d, ho #& caght #! the #re o &hattered

re$at#o!&h#'&.27

2.16 h#& tat#o! o!$ &ho& that the t#e ha& coe or &oe#!ter!at#o!a$ 'er&'ect#"e #! th#& regard. he act o !d#a !ot *e#!g a

g!ator to the Hage Co!"e!t#o! o! the C#"#$ %&'ect& o

!ter!at#o!a$ Ch#$d %*dct#o! a ha"e a !egat#"e #!$e!ce o! a

27 ura note 1

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ore#g! dge ho #& dec#d#!g o! the c&tod o a ch#$d. #thot the

gara!tee aorded * the Hage Co!"e!t#o! to the eect that the

ch#$d #$$ *e &#t$ retr!ed to the co!tr o or#g#!, the ore#g! dge

a *e re$cta!t to g#"e 'er#&o! or the ch#$d to tra"e$ to !d#a. %&a $og#ca$ '&hot, !d#a &ho$d *ecoe a g!ator to the Hage

Co!"e!t#o! a!d th#& #$$, #! tr!, *r#!g the 'ro&'ect o ach#e"#!g the

retr! to !d#a o ch#$dre! ho ha"e the#r hoe& #! !d#a.2+

III RECOMENDATION

e *e$#e"e that !d#a &ho$d ee' 'ace a!d cha!ge accord#!g

to the cha!g#!g !eed& o the &oc#et. he Co#&o!, thereore,

recoe!d& that the o"er!e!t a co!der that !d#a &ho$d

*ecoe a g!ator to the Hage Co!"e!t#o! h#ch #$$ #! tr! *r#!g

the 'ro&'ect& o ach#e"#!g the retr! to !d#a o ch#$dre! ho ha"e

the#r hoe& #! !d#a.

(Dr. ;&t#ce %. La&ha!a!)

Cha#ra!

(

Documents

Law Commission Report No. 218- Need to Accede to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980)