Mst. NEELOFAR vs MUHAMMAD KHAN Ss — 2025 CLC 145 PESHAWAR-HIGH-COURT

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Mst. NEELOFAR VS MUHAMMAD KHAN Ss.7 & 17---appointment of guardian---Custody of minor---Duty of court---Welfare of minor---Primary consideration----Custody of minor was obtained by mother after the death of her husband from her in-laws after hectic efforts by way of approaching competent court of law and with the help of police---application of mother for appointment of guardian of the minor accepted by the Guardian Court was remanded to Guardian Court upon preferring appeal by the father of her deceased husband for decision afresh after impleading the father of her husband---Validity---application for appointment of guardian is regulated by S.7 of the Guardians and Wards act, 1890 (act)---Mother and father both are natural guardians---Section 17, clauses (1), (2) and (3) of the act imposes a duty upon the Court while appointing a guardian to make the appointment consistent with the law to which the minor is subject---Central idea is the welfare of the minor---Welfare means his wordly, moral and spiritual well-being---In the presence of mother, the welfare of minors does not lie elsewhere---Minors feel psychologically more secure in the company of the mother rather than anyone else---amount of love and care which a child receives from the mother cannot be expected from any other relative, including the grandfather or uncle---Welfare of the minor would be provided by the mother with more devotion and there is no other better institution than a lap of a living mother and there cannot be a better tutor than a mother---Right from birth, the minors were living with their mother and such period was spread over years---Uprooting the minors from their given and familiar surroundings, although permissible, yet could not be done as there nothing on record to suggest that the minors would be given beneficent treatment by their grandfather---Petitioner being mother of the minors might spare lot of time for them---Mother who always had a better understanding with her children, and with whom the children enjoyed intimacy, had legal right to be the guardian of the minors---Mother was neither leading an immoral life nor was a lady of ill-repute, rather she was an educated lady and had been leading family life after death of her husband and there was no allegation whatsoever against her moral character---Judgment of the appellate court remanding the matter to Family Court for deciding the matter afresh after impleading grandfather of the minor as respondent was unwarranted---Constitutional petition was allowed, in circumstances. Citation Name: 2025 CLC 145 PESHAWAR-HIGH-COURTBookmark this Case Mst. NEELOFAR VS MUHAMMAD KHAN S.35a & O.XVII, Rr.1 & 2---Unnecessary/frequent adjournments---Effect---Failure of the counsel to appear before the Court upon acceptance/receipt of brief---Effect---Despite availing several opportunities, the respondent and his counsel failed to argue the case, on all previous dates of hearing---Petitioner, who was a female, came from far-flung area with the hope that her case would be decided on merits, but due to constant adjournments by counsel of respondent, case could not be decided---Once brief was accepted by the counsel, he was under legal obligation to appear before the Court and argue the case and assist the Court fairly and justly---Unnecessary and frequent adjournments for no legal or moral justification were unwarranted, thus, request for adjournment was turned down and the case was decided.

Mst. NEELOFAR vs MUHAMMAD KHAN Ss — 2025 CLC 145 PESHAWAR-HIGH-COURT

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