PTI, Nov 7, 2023, 11:22 AM IST
The Karnataka High Court has initiated its own process to lay down guidelines on the issue of involving psychologists to assess the mental health of detained children in matrimonial cases.
Notices were issued to the state and central governments by the bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B. Varale and Justice Krishna S. Dixit on Monday.
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by the Registrar General of the High Court on the directions of the Court.
The petition said parents involved in marital disputes force the easily influenced minds of minor children to make them believe that one of the parents would take better care of them.
The petition also states that in some cases grandparents of underage children are also involved in using persuasive methods to impress them. Therefore, the involvement of psychologists to assess the children’s psychology is necessary and guidelines must be drawn up to determine custody cases.
The court noted during the hearing that the child is the most affected in marital disputes and therefore there is a need for psychologists in custody disputes.
“Matters relating to child custody must be considered not only from legal and technical aspects but also from psychological aspects,” the bench observed.
Senior advocate Dhyan Chinnappa has been appointed as amicus curiae to assist the court in the PIL while advocate BG Tara has been appointed to assist him.
The state and central governments have been asked to submit their applications.
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