REETIKA vs RAJINDER KUMAR JINDAL & ANR.

Judgment text excerpt

$~16 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Date of Decision: 07.11.2025 + MAT.APP.(F.C.) 394/2025, CM APPL. 69225/2025 and CM APPL. 69226/2025 REETIKA .....Appellant Through: Ms. Geeta Luthra, Sr. Adv. with Ms. Kanika Baweja, Mr. Rishabh Dahiya, Ms. Jaishree Bhadauria and Ms Spriha Jha, Advs. versus RAJINDER KUMAR JINDAL & ANR. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Vijay Singh, Mr. Ashwini Kumar and Mr. Shubh Goyal, Advs. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KSHETARPAL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARISH VAIDYANATHAN SHANKAR J U D G M E N T (ORAL) ANIL KSHETARPAL, J. 1. The present appeal has been filed assailing the judgment dated 27.09.2025 [hereinafter referred to as ‘IJ’] passed by the Family Court, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi [hereinafter referred to as ‘FC’], whereby the Guardianship Petition (GP) filed by the Respondents/Grandparents was rejected. However, taking into account the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, the FC granted the Signature Not Verified MAT.APP.(F.C.) 394/2025 Page 1 of 10 Signed By:JAI NARAYAN Signing Date:13.11.2025 14:54:16 Respondents/Grandparents limited visitation rights; specifically, one opportunity to meet their 17-year-old granddaughter/minor child. 2. The brief factual matrix leading to the filing of the present Appeal are that the Appellant was married to Mr. Puneet Jindal, son of the Respondents’, out of the said wedlock a daughter was born on 28.08.2008. Unfortunately, Mr. Puneet Jindal passed away on 18.11.2012, leaving behind his widow (the Appellant) and their minor daughter [hereinafter referred to as ‘minor child’]. Subsequently, on 27.11.2015, the Respondents filed the GP under the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956, seeking custody of the minor child. However, it is pertinent to note that prior to the filing of the said GP, th