The Supreme Court urges a high-profile couple, a fashion entrepreneur and a food business tycoon, to resolve their child custody dispute amicably over coffee, highlighting the human side of family law.

Supreme Court Suggests Coffee Meeting to Resolve High-Profile Child Custody Dispute

In a high-stakes legal battle, the Supreme Court of India advised an elite couple involved in a child custody case to settle their differences over a casual meeting—perhaps “over coffee or dinner.” The case involves a separated couple: a wife who is a successful fashion entrepreneur and a husband who runs a major packaged food business.

Dispute Over Child’s International Travel Sparks Legal Tension

The dispute intensified when the wife sought court permission to travel to Europe with their 3-year-old daughter during June and July. The husband refused to sign the necessary travel documents, expressing fears that the child might “disappear” overseas.

Supreme Court Encourages Direct Communication Between Parents

The court urged the estranged couple to meet privately—without lawyers or family members—to “talk out the issues.” The bench also questioned why the pair, still legally married, couldn’t spend a short vacation together for their child’s sake. The justices remarked, “Traveling abroad is pure luxury,” emphasizing practical parenting over extravagant travel.

Father Requests Custody of Child’s Passport

The husband argued that he should retain custody of the child’s passport to ensure her safe return to India. He proposed that the wife could travel with her own family while their daughter stayed with paternal grandparents in Mumbai.

Legal Mediation and Allegations of Abuse

Representing the wife, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi stated that his client was open to mediation. However, he asserted that reconciliation was impossible due to an allegedly abusive relationship—a claim the husband strongly denied. The wife also stated she did not want her husband to accompany them on the European trip.

Supreme Court Hopes for Positive Outcome

The bench encouraged the couple to focus on the future and consider reconciliation. The hearing was adjourned with hopes that time spent together might yield a positive resolution.

Previous Custody Ruling and Visitation Concerns

Previously, the Mumbai High Court granted custody of the child to the mother, allowing her to reside with the child in Delhi. The husband, who lives in Mumbai, told the Supreme Court he had only been allowed supervised visits at the wife’s family home, an environment he deemed unfit for private discussions.

Justice Abhay Oka Proposed as Mediator

To navigate the complex legal and emotional terrain, the Supreme Court suggested appointing retired Justice Abhay Oka as a mediator. His involvement is expected to facilitate a balanced resolution for both custody and divorce proceedings.