Chennai: Teen in custody row jumps off 1st floor after high court order

CHENNAI: A 14-year-old girl brought to Madras high court Tuesday in a custody dispute jumped from the first-floor corridor moments after a bench ordered she be placed in a govt home.The teenager was produced before judges MS Ramesh and V Lakshminarayanan to state whether she wished to live with her mother or father, who are divorced and reside separately.

Rejecting both options, the girl told the court she wanted to stay with her grandmother in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.Minutes after the judges ruled against that request, citing a confidential counsellor's report that the islands would not be a conducive environment, she leapt from court No 5's corridor. Police on site rushed her to hospital in an ambulance stationed on the court premises.The case began with a habeas corpus petition filed by her father MK Nair, who alleged his daughter was missing.

Police later traced her to her grandmother's home in Andamans. She had allegedly gone there voluntarily after refusing to live with either parent. During the hearing, the girl underwent counselling at Tamil Nadu Mediation and Conciliation Centre, but talks failed. The counsellor's sealed report recommended specialised psychiatric counselling.

Finding no viable option with either parent, the court directed police to admit her to Govt Children's Home for Girls in Chennai by Aug 12. Her father was ordered to accompany her to psychiatrist Dr Venkat from Institute of Mental Health by Aug 13 and later as required. The psychiatrist was asked to file an interim report and allowed to counsel the father, who has allegedly been estranged from the girl for years. All medical and related expenses are to be borne by the petitioner.Her mother and grandmother were allowed to visit during permitted hours. The case was adjourned.