Child Access & Custody Guidelines 2025
A Comprehensive Framework for Shared Parenting and Protection of Child Welfare The Child Access & Custody Guidelines, along with the Parenting Plan (2025) issued by the High Court at Calcutta , represent a significant evolution in Indian family law jurisprudence. These Guidelines are not merely procedural directions; they embody a philosophical shift in how courts, parents, and society must view custody disputes. For years, child custody battles have often been treated as adversarial contests between parents. The 2025 Guidelines firmly reject that approach and reposition custody matters around a central axis: The child’s emotional, psychological, and developmental well-being must be the primary and overriding consideration. The Social Reality Behind the Reform Modern Indian society has undergone profound change. Urbanization, dual-income households, mobility, and shifting marital expectations have led to: An increase in divorce and separation cases Prolon...