HC gives aunt custody of boy, his parents visiting rights

The Bombay High Court has granted custody of a four-year-old boy to his paternal aunt, declaring her as his “true and lawful” guardian. The court based its decision on the principle of parens patriae, which allows the court to act as a parent in the child’s best interest. The judge noted that the boy’s mother had psychological issues and the father was aggressive. The aunt’s petition stated that her brother, the boy’s father, was unemployed. The court allowed the parents to visit the child regularly but stated that the aunt would be his primary guardian.