Home / Crime and Justice / Calcutta High Court Unveils Guidelines to Protect Children in Custody Battles
Calcutta High Court Unveils Guidelines to Protect Children in Custody Battles
8 Oct
Summary
- Child entitled to daily phone contact with both parents during custody disputes
- Parents barred from encouraging child to call new spouse "mom" or "dad"
- Family courts must decide visitation rights within 3 months of custody case start
In response to a rise in divorce cases leading to contentious custody battles, the Calcutta High Court has issued new guidelines to safeguard the rights of children caught in the middle. As of October 8th, 2025, the court has ruled that a child is entitled to speak with both parents over the phone at least once a day while a custody dispute is ongoing.
Additionally, the guidelines state that parents involved in a custody battle must not encourage the child to refer to a new spouse or companion as "papa", "mummy", "dad" or "mom", as such terms can be harmful to the child's relationship with their biological parents. Instead, the court suggests that a substitute name be used.
The new rules also mandate that family courts must decide on visitation rights within 3 months of the start of a custody case. Divorce orders will not be granted unless arrangements are made for the child's maintenance, education and custody. Visitation cannot be denied on the grounds of non-payment or late payment of child support.
