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Report No. 263

Chapter V
Procedure for Application to High Courts

13. Without prejudice to any other means for securing the return of a child in respect of whom an application has been made under Section 6, the Central Authority may apply to the High Court within whose territorial jurisdiction the child is physically present or was last known to be present for an order directing the return of such child to the Contracting State in which the child has his or her habitual residence.

14. Where an application is made to a High Court under Section 14, the Court may, at any time before the application is determined, give such interim directions as it thinks fit for the purpose of securing the welfare of the child concerned, or of securing the child's residence pending the proceedings, or to prevent the child's return for being obstructed, or of otherwise preventing any change in the circumstances relevant to the determination of the application.

15. Where the High Court is satisfied, upon an application made to it under Section 10, that:-

(a) The child in respect of whom the application has been made has been wrongfully removed to or retained in India within the meaning of Section 3; and,

(b) A period of one year has not yet elapsed between the date of the alleged removal or retention and the date of such application;

It shall forthwith order the return of such child to the Contracting State in which the child had his or her habitual residence;

Provided that the High Court may order the return of a child to the Contracting State in which that child has his or her habitual residence even in a case where more than one year has elapsed between the date of the alleged removal or retention and the date of such application, unless it is satisfied that the child is settled in his or her new environment.

16. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 15, the High Court is not bound to order the return of the child if the person, institution or other body which opposes its return establishes that:

(a) the person, institution or other body having the care of the person of the child was not actually exercising the custody rights at the time of removal or retention, or had consented to or subsequently acquiesced in the removal or retention; or

(b) there is a grave risk that his or her return would expose the child to physical or psychological harm or otherwise place the child in an intolerable situation.

(2) The High Court may also refuse to order the return of the child if it finds that the child objects to being returned and has attained an age and degree of maturity at which it is appropriate to take account of its views.

(3) The return of the child may be refused if this would not be permitted by the fundamental principles of the requested State relating to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

(4) In exercising its powers under this Section, the High Court shall have regard to any information relating to the social background of the child provided by the appropriate authority of the Contracting State in which that child has his or her habitual residence.

(5) The High Court shall not refuse to make an order under this Section for the return of a child to the Contracting State in which that child has his or her habitual residence, on the grounds only that there is in force, a decision of a court in India or a decision entitled to be recognised by a court in India relating to the custody of such a child, but the High Court shall, in making an order under Section 10, take into account the reasons for such decision.

17. (1) The appropriate authority, or a person, institution or other body of a Contracting State, may make an application to the Central Authority for assistance in securing effective exercise of rights of access of a person specified in the application to a child who is in India.

(2) An application made under Sub-section (1) shall be in such form in such manner as may be prescribed.

18. (1) Without prejudice to any other means for securing the exercise of rights of access of any person to a child in India, the Central Authority may apply to the High Court for an order of the Court for securing the effective exercise of those rights.

(2) Where the High Court is satisfied, on an application made to it under Sub-section (1), that the person who, or on whose behalf, such application is made has rights of access to the child specified in the application, it may make such order as may be necessary to secure the effective exercise of those rights of access, and any conditions to which they are subject.

19. (1) In ascertaining whether there has been a wrongful removal or retention within the meaning of Section 3, the High Court may take notice directly of the law of, and of judicial or administrative decisions, formally recognised or not in the State of the habitual residence of the child, without recourse to the specific procedures for the proof of that law or for the recognition of foreign decisions which would otherwise be applicable.

(2) The High Court may, before making an order under Section 13 for the return of a child to the Contracting State in which that child has his or her habitual residence, request the central Authority to obtain from the relevant authorities of the Contracting State in which that child has his or her habitual residence, a decision or determination as to whether the removal to, or retention in, India, of that child, is wrongful under Section 3.

20. Upon making an order under Section 13 for the return of a child to the Contracting State in which that child has his or her habitual residence, the High Court may order the person who removed that child to India, or who retained that child in India, to pay the expenses incurred by the Central Authority. These expenses may include costs incurred in locating the child, costs of legal representation of the Central Authority, and costs incurred in returning the child to the Contracting State in which that child has his or her habitual residence.

21. An order made by the High Court under Section 13 shall not be regarded as a decision or determination on the merits of any question relating to the custody of the child to whom an order relates.

22. Where an order is made under Section 13 for the return of a child to the Contracting State in which that child has his or her habitual residence, the Central Authority shall cause such administrative arrangements as are necessary to be made in accordance with the order for the return of such child to such Contracting State.



Protection of Children (Inter-Country Removal and Retention) Bill, 2016 Back




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