#minor child

Madras High Court rules that while Section 6 of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 presumes a mother’s custody right for children under five, this presumption is rebuttable if the child’s welfare is better served with the father. The court dismissed a habeas corpus petition, emphasizing that the child’s settled environment with the father outweighed the statutory presumption.

The Karnataka High Court ruled that a custodial parent may renew a minor's passport without the non-responsive parent's consent when denial would block the child's participation in an international sporting event. The judgment affirms that procedural rigidity must yield to the child's welfare under Article 21, setting a precedent for minors in competitive sports facing bureaucratic delays due to absent or uncooperative parents.

Chhattisgarh High Court upholds maintenance under Section 125 CrPC despite absence of formal marriage proof, emphasizing cohabitation, dependency, and conduct as decisive factors.