Don't Traumatise Him, You're Virtually A Stranger: SC To Atul Subhash's Mother On Grandson's Custody

The Supreme Court has sought an affidavit from the Haryana government and Atul's wife on the condition of the child. The next hearing on the case will be on January 20.

The court said Anju Devi could meet the child if she wanted but shouldn't expect that he would be comfortable with her.

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Atul Subhas Suicide: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain the plea of Atul Subhash's mother Anju Devi who sought the custody of his four-year-old son. Atul Subhash, an AI engineer in Bengaluru, died by suicide alleging harassment by his wife Nikita Singhania in December.

The Supreme Court has sought an affidavit from the Haryana government and Atul's wife on the condition of the child. The next hearing on the case will be on January 20.

Earlier on December 20, a bench headed by Supreme Court judge Justice BV Nagarathna had issued notice to the governments of Haryana, UP and Karnataka on the petition of Anju Devi. Anju Devi had said in the petition that she had no information about her grandson since Nikita went to jail. The child should be traced and handed over to her, she has demanded.

The Supreme Court said that it had issued notice on this petition because the mother was in custody. Now that she is out, there is no point in hearing the Habeas Corpus petition filed to trace the child. 

Don't Traumatise The Child: SC To Atul Subhash's Mother

The court asked Anju Devi's counsel to not "traumatise" the child. "When did you meet him last? He doesn’t know you at all. You’re virtually a stranger to the child. In the sense you have no familiarity," the court said, as per Live Law. To this, Anju Devi replied that she had spent time with the child and she had proof.

The court said she could meet the child if she wanted but shouldn't expect that he would be comfortable with her. "The child has to be with his parent, if not both then at least one parent," the court noted.

Anju Devi argued that this condition doesn't apply if one parent is guilty of the death of another parent. "Not yet! It's not a media trial. Only a court trial can pronounce a person guilty!" the court added.