Supreme Court lets mother move kids to UK as father faces POCSO case

The Supreme Court is reviewing lower court judgments that granted sole custody to the father and denied the relocation request.

Who it concerns: Appellant: Debarati Bhunia Chakraborty (Mother); Respondent: Suman Sankar Bhunia (Father); Bench: Justice Mehta.

What the court decided

• The Court stayed the effect and operation of the High Court and Family Court judgments dated 23rd January 2026 and 1st July 2024, respectively.
• The Court granted visitation rights to the respondent-father during summer vacations to prevent total alienation from the children.
• The Court directed that the parents and children be present for interaction in Chambers, which took place on 18th February 2026.

Also in the document

• The Court noted that the son, aged 13, expressed a strong reluctance to be in the father's company and exhibited fear during the interaction.
• A POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) FIR was registered against the father in 2023, which is currently pending before the High Court of Calcutta.
• The mother is employed in the UK with a salary of approximately Rs. 3 Lakhs per month, while the father earns Rs. 17,000 per month.
• The lower courts had denied the relocation request partly due to the mother's frequent job changes and moves between 2021 and 2023.