JAMEELA Vs. HIDAYATHULLA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These appeals are filed challenging the judgment dated 26.5.2020 in O.P.(G&W) No.408 of 2018 of the Family Court, Kasaragod. Mat. Appeal No.379 of 2020 is filed by the petitioner and Mat. Appeal No.407 of 2020 is filed by the respondent before the court below.

(2.) By the impugned judgment, the Family Court allowed in part the original petition, for appointment of guardian of four minor children. Permanent custody of minor son 'Abdul Hafeez', aged 6 years, was granted to the mother while permanent custody of the three minor daughters aged 14, 9 and 4 years was denied to the mother. Instead, she was given visitation rights over the three daughters for two hours every 15 days. The Family Court further ordered that in order to have companionship amongst the siblings, custody of the minor son was given to the father for half the period of holidays during all the major vacations like Onam, Christmas and summer vacation. The mother of the children has preferred Mat. Appeal No.379 of 2020 challenging the denial of custody of the three daughters while Mat. Appeal No.407 of 2020 has been preferred by the father, challenging the grant of custody of the son to the mother.

(3.) For the purpose of easy reference, we are referring to the parties as they are arrayed in Mat. Appeal No.379 of 2020, where the appellant is the mother and respondent, the father.