Pakistani-British Father Seeks Return of Sons from India to UK
A Pakistani-British national, Riyaz Ayaz, has approached the Delhi High Court to repatriate his two minor sons, both British citizens, to the United Kingdom. The children were brought to India by their mother in September 2023 and have been living with her in Delhi.
The UK High Court has already ordered the children’s return to the UK. The mother, also a UK citizen, has initiated a custody petition in a Delhi court. A Division Bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma has directed the mother to appear before the court with the children and their original passports on October 3.
Advocate Khalid Akhtar, representing Riyaz Ayaz, stated that the father has not been allowed to communicate with his children. Riyaz Ayaz filed a habeas corpus petition seeking the immediate return of his children to the UK and to prevent the mother from initiating any custody proceedings in India.
The plea mentions that the couple married in the UK in 2006 and had two sons in 2014 and 2018. The mother and children traveled to India on August 31, 2023. Riyaz Ayaz claims that his wife gave him a wrong phone number to stay in touch and later applied for a visa extension for the children without his knowledge.
The UK High Court directed the mother to allow video contact between the father and children twice a week, which she did not comply with. The UK High Court held a final hearing on August 9 and ordered the children’s return to the UK on August 16, citing their habitual residence and the appropriate forum for their welfare as the UK.
Doubts Revealed
Pakistani-British -: This means the father, Riyaz Ayaz, has connections to both Pakistan and Britain. He might have been born in Pakistan but now lives in Britain.
Delhi High Court -: This is a big court in Delhi, India, where important legal cases are decided.
repatriate -: This means to send someone back to their own country. In this case, the father wants his sons to go back to the UK.
UK High Court -: This is a big court in the United Kingdom that makes important legal decisions.
British citizen -: This means the sons have the legal right to live in the United Kingdom because they are recognized as citizens there.
passports -: These are official documents that allow people to travel to other countries. The court wants to see the children’s passports.
