The Karnataka High Court (HCK) has directed all trial courts in the state to apply the Child Access and Custody Guidelines along with the Parenting Plan-2025 recently announced by the Calcutta High Court (HCC) till the HCK formulates the Child Custody Rules based on these guidelines with relevant amendments.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Poonach passed the interim order while hearing a PIL initiated by the court suo motu in 2023 to frame guidelines for determining child custody issues in matrimonial disputes before various judicial forums and involve experts in human psychology.
During the hearing of the petition on 15 December, the guidelines notified by the HCC in September 2025 were placed before the Bench, which subsequently decided to follow the guidelines till the HCC analyzes the rules and issues rules for Karnataka.
Meanwhile, the Bench said the guidelines framed by the HCC should be followed by all the trial courts in Karnataka exercising jurisdiction in matters relating to the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, up to the rules laid down by the HCC.
The Bench noted that the HCC while considering the PIL petition for direction to formulate appropriate guidelines for access to children, care of the child along with parenting plan referred the matter to the HCC Rules Committee which invited suggestions from the District Judge, Principals of Judicial Academy, State of West Bengal, Child Psychologists and other relevant stakeholders who conducted various hearings.
After framing the guidelines, the HCC adopted them on September 23, 2025 for use in child custody cases till it framed rules based on the guidelines, the Bench noted while adjourning further hearing on the petition to March 13, 2026.
Published – 17 Dec 2025 20:49 IST
