Real-World Family Law - The Unwritten Rules

Last summer, I interned at a Mumbai family court, and one case still haunts me. A young couple, both below 25, were fighting for custody of their infant child due to the husband's alleged abandonment. The judge asked the wife a rather pointed question: 'Do you have any relatives who would take care of the child if you're not around?' She proudly mentioned her sister, who was a working professional but lived in a different city. The judge's next question floored me - 'How often do you see your sister, and how would she ensure the child's education in Maharashtra as per the state's rules?' The court's emphasis on the extended family's role in childcare, and their ability to adapt to local circumstances, was a crucial takeaway that our textbooks never highlighted. It's these subtle yet crucial considerations that can sway a family court's decision in MH CET Law.