Mother fined for stopping son from meeting father

Tue, Jul 8 07:27 PM

New Delhi, July 8 (PTI) Pulling up a woman for "poisoning" her son's mind, the Delhi High Court today slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 on her for contempt of court by ignoring a lower court's direction to allow the boy meet her husband, with whom she is involved in a matrimonial dispute. Contemnor Tina Oberoi was fined by the High Court, which stopped short of sending her to jail, for preventing her son from meeting his father once a week despite a lower court's order.

The High Court also made it clear that in case of default in depositing the fine, Tina, would face a simple imprisonment of two weeks. "There is a clear and wilful design of defiance of the court order by Tina Oberoi who used the child as a tool by poisoning the mind of the child to such an extent that the child started crying on just seeing the father without any provocation in the court itself," said Justice Dhingra in a contempt petition filed by Aman Oberoi, Tina's husband.

"Although it is a clear case of contempt committed by the wife but I consider that it would not be appropriate to send the wife to jail since that would cause further trauma to the child and it would be appropriate if a fine of Rs 25,000 is imposed on the wife for defying the order of court," the court said. Suspending the sentence for a month, the court said "She is given an opportunity to mend her ways and comply with the order of the court.

In future non-compliance of the order shall amount to further contempt of court. Last week the court had expressed its displeasure over Tina's alleged bid to prevent her son from meeting his father every Sunday, despite court permission.

"It clearly reflects that he has been well tutored by you to speak against the father," said Justice S N Dhingra, adding that she should not poison the child's mind. The court has granted visitation right to father on every Sunday at Kwality Sweets in Hari Nagar, Clock Tower, saying that the child will return to his mother by evening.

PTI.

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