HC takes custody of a child

New Delhi, May 24 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today took a child in its custody rejecting claims of two people sparring for custody and directed he be sent to an SOS home.

Justice Manmohan Sarin and Justice Rekha directed that the child be put in the congenial atmosphere of the SOS children's village at Faridabad.

Petitioner Noor Mohammad had prayed for habeas corpus of the child from the possession of the police which had recovered him from Noor Mohammed, five years after one Saiduddin lodged an FIR.

However, Saiduddin who claimed to be the biological father of the child could not furnish enough evidence to satisfy the court.

The court has called for a DNA report ordered in March to establish paternity.

Noor Mohammad who only had daughters admitted that although he was not the biological father, the child, reared by him for about five years was like a son to him. The child had become inseparable from the family, he added.

The boy, however, told the police that he was ill-treated by Noor Mohammed.

Expressing concern over the interim custody of the child, the judges called upon SOS Children's Village of India director R N Yadav to assume the responsibility.

''The child should be kept under care of a trained woman and known as mother to provide a congenial atmosphere of a home,'' the judges observed.

UNI SSS PR DB2000