Calcutta High Court Notifies Mandatory Child Access & Custody Guidelines Along With Parenting Plan

On 26 September 2025, the Calcutta High Court formally approved and published the Mandatory Child Access & Custody Guidelines on its official website.

According to the document, the State of West Bengal and the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands presently lack appropriate guidelines on custody that would assist the Courts.

In the above factual matrix, a Public Interest Litigation was filed by Dr. Ratul Roy and Ayushman Initiative for Child Rights to frame appropriate Guidelines for child access and child custody, along with a parental plan in accordance with the Guidelines made by the Child Rights Foundation.

By an order dated 19.07.2022 the Division Bench presided over by the then Chief Justice and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj referred the matter relating to framing of Guidelines on the issue of Child Access and Custody Guidelines, along with Parenting Plan, to the Rule Committee of the Court.

The present rules are a result of the deliberations and discussions by the committee.

These guidelines are a landmark step in family law jurisprudence as they inter alia:

• Establish uniform and enforceable standards for child custody and visitation across family courts;
• Emphasise the best interest and welfare of the child, ensuring frequent and meaningful contact with both parents;
• Mandate structured parenting plans, compensatory access for denied visitation, and strict penalties for breaches;
• Provide clarity on relocation, communication rights, medical updates, and parental responsibilities.

The complete guidelines are available on the Calcutta High Court's official notice board.