Orissa HC asks woman to hand over baby to father

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court has allowed a man to take custody of his 15-monthold son observing continuance of the custody of the toddler with the mother, now staying separately, would be detrimental to the child’s mental and physical development and may affect his psychology negatively.

The court direction came after watching a video in which it is seen that the mother was repeatedly torturing and beating the child mercilessly.

A Division Bench of Justices SK Mishra and Savitri Ratho on Friday while allowing a writ of habeas corpus filed by one Chakradhar Nayak of Puri district directed his wife to hand over the baby boy to his father within seven days.

“In case of her failure to do so, the police shall take appropriate steps in taking the child from the physical custody of the mother and handover the child to the father,” the high court directed.