PHOOLAN DEVI VS. DANDU RAM on 27 October 2026

JUDGMENT

IA No. 174181/2026 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.)

Date : 27-10-2026 This matter was called on for hearing today.

CORAM :

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K.V. VISWANATHAN HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN PALLI For Petitioner(s) : Mrs. Madhurika Sekhon, Adv. Ms. Divya Negi, Adv. Ms. Vijay Laxmi Dubey, Adv. Mr. Kanchan Kumar Jha, Adv. For M/S. Brajesh Pandey & Associates- 3865, AOR

For Respondent(s) : Mr. Manish Goswami, Sr. Adv. Mr. Gaurav Shukla, Adv. Mr. Brahmjeet Singh, Adv. Mr. Rameshwar Prasad Goyal- 1350, AOR

UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following

O R D E R

1. This is a matter pertaining to custody dispute. The mother is before us as the petitioner.

Digitally signed by ANITA MALHOTRA Date: 2026.10.28 19:00:22 IST

Reason:

Signature Not Verified

2. The petitioner/mother succeeded before the Trial Court but the High Court has, on the ground that the Trial Court has not examined the issue of maintainability, remitted the matter back to the Trial Court. The net result is today the petitioner has not been able to meet two girls aged approximately 17 years and 13 years. Whatever be the legal issues that may be involved, there cannot be a situation where a mother is not allowed to meet her two daughters, who are minors. There are rival versions as to why the mother is not able to meet the children but we are, for the present, not adverting to the same. We are of the opinion that as and when the mother desires and, of course, subject to mutual convenience, the mother and the girls should interact. Any differences also ought to be sorted out.

3. To

facilitate

the

meeting

between

the petitioner/mother and the daughters, we direct as follows:

(a) The mother is stationed at Mandi, Himachal Pradesh and the daughters are at Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. Though the districts are different, topographically the distance is not very far. The District Legal Services Authority, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh shall help the petitioner in facilitating the meeting between her and the daughters; (b) The Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh will coordinate with the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh to ensure that the meeting of the petitioner and the daughters proceeds at ease without any hurdle;

(c) The Secretaries, District Legal Services Authorities, Mandi and Bilaspur either in person or through an officer nominated by them shall get in touch with the petitioner/mother- (Phoolan Devi, Mobile No.8826990400) of the two girls; (d) The girls are in the custody of their paternal grandfather (Shri Dandu Ram, Mobile No.9418579929); and (e) The petitioner will inform her suitable time and the District Legal Services Authority, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh will, after ascertaining the suitable time at the end of the children, arrange a meeting at a time and place to be mutually decided in consultation with the District Legal Services Authority, Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.

4. We make it clear that any impediment for the meetings created would be visited with serious consequences.

5. Let a copy of this order be sent to both the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh and the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.

6. List the matter on 8th January, 2027.

7. The Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh shall furnish a report to us as to the events that transpired today and till the next date of hearing. The report shall be filed on or before 7th January, 2027. (ANITA MALHOTRA) (NIKITA SINGH) DEPUTY REGISTRAR COURT MASTER