CONT P/2142/2026 of Jeffri M. Vs Aneetha Annie Teresa. S on 17 August 2026

ORDER

The Contempt Petition has been filed by the husband alleging willful disobedience of the order dated 25.03.2026 in CRP. No.3013 of 2025.

2. The order passed in the revision is pertaining to interim custody rights of the petitioner/husband. By a common order in CRP. Nos.3010 and 3013 of 2025 dated, 25.03.2026, this Court directed the husband to have interim custody of the minor children viz., Jessica Linda, aged 13 years and Jayden Antony, aged 9 years, on the second and fourth Sunday of every month from 10 a.m. to

4.00 p.m, at his residence. The petitioner/husband was also entitled, on prior intimation to the wife, to take child on Christmas and on their birthdays for two or three hours. This Court has also held that the father would be entitled to visit and attend school functions, without disturbing the children’s classes.

3. As the contempt alleged touches emotional chord of minor children as well, I directed the minor children to be present at my Chambers on 06.08.2026. After hearing their views and also the views of their father and mother, as an interim measure, I directed the minor children to spend time with the father on Independence Day i.e., on 15.08.2026. The mother was directed to drop the children at the residence of the father at 12.00 noon and thereafter pick up the children at 5.00 pm. For ascertaining the further views of the minor children and for passing further orders, the contempt petition was adjourned to today i.e., on 17.08.2026.

4. Today at 5.00 pm, the father, mother alongwith their respective Counsel and two minor children are present in my Chamber. I interacted with the minor children in private and also in the presence of the parties as well. I also ascertained the views of both the father and mother. Though an order came to be passed on 25.03.2026, the said arrangement appears to be unworkable and not in the interest of the minor children. Considering the fact that academics and health of the children may come in the way of implementing this order, it has been suggested by me that the interim custody of the minor children shall be flexible and therefore, it is made open for exercise of such interim custody on any two Saturdays. Hence, in order to ensure that the father is able to exercise his interim custody rights in the most beneficial manner and without in any manner prejudicing or compromising the welfare and interest of the minor children, after deliberating the issues and concerns raised on either side, the Contempt Petition is disposed of in the following manner:-

(i) I do not find any willful disobedience of the order of this Court dated 25.03.2026, warranting initiation of contempt proceedings/action against the respondent/wife.

(ii) Considering the welfare and interest of the minor children and various other relevant factors, with the consent of father and mother viz., petitioner and respondent, the order dated 25.03.2026, is modified as hereunder:- (a) The petitioner/father shall have interim custody of the two minor children viz., Jessica Linda, aged 13 years and Jayden Antony, aged 9 years, between 10.00 am and 2.00 pm, on any two Saturdays of every month. The respondent/mother shall intimate the father by SMS/Whatsapp, regarding the availability and convenience of the children on the previous Friday i.e., one day prior, before 8.00 pm. and on the following day, the petitioner shall pick up the minor children, outside of Dasaprakash Hotel, across which the respondent/mother resides. The father is entitled to take the minor children with him and directions in this regard as follows:

(i) On the first of the two Saturdays, the petitioner shall take the minor children to any Mall of the choice of the Children and shall spend quality time with his children and also have lunch with them and thereafter, drop the Children at 2.00 pm at the same place from where he picks up the children in the morning at 10.00 am.

(ii) On the next Saturday (the other Saturday), the petitioner is entitled to take the minor Children to his residence to enable his father, sister and niece to spend some time with the minor children. The said visit to the residence however shall be restricted to a maximum of 30 minutes. It is however open to the niece of the petitioner, that is the cousin of the minor children to accompany her uncle and cousins to VR Mall, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Anna Nagar West, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600 040 and spend time there until and including lunch and post lunch, the children will be dropped at the very same location from where the children are picked up in the morning, at 2.00 pm.

(iii) On Christmas and the birthdays of the minor children, the petitioner is entitled to have interim custody for two hours, time slot shall be communicated by the respondent/wife in advance, atleast two days in advance, by SMS/Whatsapp and during these two hours, the petitioner shall take the children to his house, to get the blessings of elders and they would be brought back and dropped at the same location from there where they are picked up.

(iv) Insofar as the right of the father to attend School functions or anniversaries, especially when the children are awarded prices or participating, the respondent/mother shall inform the petitioner well in advance, atleast three days in advance, so that it shall be open to the petitioner to also join and participate in the anniversaries/price distribution functions, as the case may be. However, it is made clear that the petitioner shall not as of now be entitled to go to the school premises, for attending Parents Teachers Association meetings. The respondent shall however update the progress of the children in academics as well as extra curricular activities, by sending periodical reports, once in three months by way of whatsapp, e.mail to the petitioner/father, so that he is also aware of the progress made by the children.

(v) Since this order is passed today, after hearing the parties as well as the views of the children in the Chambers and considering the fact that the father has already exercise interim custody rights on 15.08.2026, the petitioner shall be entitled to interim custody in the manner aforementioned on any of the remaining Saturdays of this month as well. 17-08-2026 RKP Index: Yes/No Internet: Yes/No Neutral Citation: Yes/No

P.B.BALAJI, J., rkp Cont. P. No.2142 of 2026 17.08.2026