HC denies relief to differently abled mother in custody battle
MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by a hearing- and speech-impaired woman who sought the immediate restoration of her children's custody from her estranged husband.
Observing that the family court is best suited to rule on the case, a division bench of justices Sarang Kotwal and SM Modak ordered the custody of the children, aged three and four, to remain with their father, citing their medical and emotional requirements.
The petitioner, Pooja Dhanashetty, claimed she had separated from her husband, Abhijit Dhanashetty, in 2021 after allegedly being subjected to domestic abuse. She claimed that their children were with her till August 2024, when Abhijit took them away after a visit to a mall.
Pooja then approached the Bombay high court, saying her children had been illegally detained by Abhijit and sought their immediate custody. Her counsel, advocate Prashant Pandey, highlighted the provisions of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, which state that the custody of children should remain with the mother.
On the other hand, advocate Vikas Shivarkar, representing Abhijit, who is a Pune resident, stated that a custody case is pending before the family court in Mumbai, which would be the proper forum to decide the welfare and the custody of the kids. He added that Pooja is not in a position to look after the children, especially their daughter who is undergoing physiotherapy sessions five days a week in Pune.
A division bench of justices Sarang Kotwal and SM Modak ruled that the father should continue having the children's custody as he is in a better position to look after them.
It also noted that the estranged couple's daughter is suffering from an ailment that required regular medical treatment in Pune, and that Pooja hadn't ever started any treatment for her daughter in Mumbai. It would not be possible for the daughter to continue getting treatment in Pune if her custody is given to her mother, who lives in Mumbai, the bench added.
Considering the age of the second child, the court also stated that it would not be proper to separate the siblings at this stage as they are growing together.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Time of India
No right to pee: How community toilets are failing Mumbai's women
The queues snaking out of the community toilets in Ambojwadi, Malvani, are the dividing line between the haves and have-nots of this slum in Malad West. They mark out those who have or don't have access to an increasingly sought-after amenity—a house latrine. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Lata Ugade, a homemaker, is one of the haves. She installed a toilet at home some years ago after she found her then teenage daughter, Pooja, had taken to reducing food and water intake to avoid using the dirty and often dysfunctional community toilet. "She grew thin and weak and had frequent mouth ulcers, stomach aches, and headaches," recalls her mother. "But all that changed when we installed a toilet." Last week, a report by Praja Foundation highlighted the shortage of public and community toilets in Mumbai. In 2023, it found, a single community toilet seat served 81 men and 83 women—more than twice and thrice the norm, respectively, recommended by Swachh Bharat Mission guidelines. As importantly, the loos were often difficult to use: 69% of the city's 6,800 community toilet blocks lacked a water connection, Praja's report found, while 60% had no electricity. In Ambojwadi, Indu Anil Magar says she leaves the door open for fear of the dark—only the corridor is lit. Women are especially affected by the lack of toilets, and at every stage of life, says Marina Joseph, associate director at YUVA, a nonprofit that helps marginalised communities. "Young girls face safety concerns if they have to defecate in the open, [while] unclean toilets have various health implications including UTIs," she notes. "Lack of a waste disposal system is challenging during menstruation. Older women and those with physical disabilities [have] to navigate toilets that are not suited to their needs. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now " While men can use public toilets, facilities in their workplace, or even the roadside, women at home have fewer options, says Nasreen Khan, a beautician from Kurla East. Women who work as street vendors or domestic help also struggle—only 1 in 4 public toilets are allocated for women. That means community toilets are women's best available option, and even this facility is spurned by those who can afford it. Are Individual toilets a solution? Mumbai's community toilets are built by BMC or MHADA, with toilet seats assigned in equal numbers to men and women. Under the Slum Sanitation Programme, built toilet blocks are to be handed over to a community-based organisation (CBO) to operate and maintain. "But, in some cases, community members can't be bothered with forming a CBO. The toilet block is then managed by an individual, often with political clout," says a nonprofit worker with an M-East Ward sanitation plan. User fees are then at risk of being misappropriated. But even legitimate CBOs struggle to maintain toilets. Mankhurd's Agarwadi women-run community toilet is used by over 300 people daily and earns 10,000 a month—a sum that just about manages to cover electricity and water bills. Few CBOs have money to fix stolen taps, broken doors, and damaged lights. So is the individual toilet the solution to Mumbai's sanitation problem? The thinktank Observer Research Foundation thinks so. Its white paper on the issue says authorities must incentivise individual toilets in slums as the only "sustainable and fool-proof remedy". In Ambojwadi, which has a population of less than 60,000, individual toilets are certainly gaining ground, says Shahenshah Ansari, a resident and YUVA community organiser. And no wonder: Eight of the 23 community toilet blocks are non-functional. In one block, nine of the 20 stalls assigned to women have been roped off because they are unusable. Stalls that are functioning are filthy. The CBO running the toilet block has not been audited in a decade; with neither rod nor reward to compel maintenance, they've let the place slide. Yet, not everyone can afford to build a latrine or has room for it. Some community toilets work Some non-profits are finding ways to improve community toilets, including by focusing on behaviour change. Many slum residents are migrants with little sense of ownership of neighbourhood amenities, notes Yasmin Mulla, a director at Apnalaya. "How do you cultivate in them a sense of responsibility for this common good?" Apnalaya did this by forming 'Toilet User Groups' in Shivaji Nagar, M-East Ward, of 140-150 residents who are trained to help the community take ownership of toilet blocks. Training includes lessons on health risks, on how to use BMC helplines and follow up on complaints. The local CBO now has monthly meetings to audit expenses and review gaps in maintenance. "Earlier the toilet was cleaned only once a day; it's now cleaned three times," says Sakshi Sadanand Jadhav, who worked on the project. In Ambojwadi, YUVA has campaigned for better timings and free entry for children. But their chief demand is for a sewerage system—BMC refuses because the slum is not notified, says Ansari. Yet, there have been small wins. At one toilet, the kaccha overflow line – which is often broken, causing sewage to leak into streets and homes – was replaced with iron pipes, says Ansari. "It took one year of leaning on the BMC, but we got the job done. " (With inputs from Sharmila Ganesan)
NDTV
16-05-2025
- NDTV
Are Antacids Safe For Long-Term Use? Nutritionist Answers
If you suffer from sudden indigestion, stomach ulcers or heartburn, no doubt, the uncomfortable sensation makes you immediately reach out for quick-fix pills. But, have you considered the long-term effects of these relatively safe medicines? Nutritionist Pooja Makhija claimed that antacids like Netsim, NexPro, Omez or Sompraz can do far more damage than they can do any good. In a video shared on Instagram, she says, "Meta-analysis in the 2022 study published in BMC Medicine showed that long-term PPIs can cause increased dysbiosis because nutrient absorption is also affected." She added, "Not only does it reduce the acid in the stomach, but also the absorption of nutrients, B12, magnesium, and therefore, gut dysbiosis, osteoporosis, fractures, kidney damage, neurological symptoms such as dementia, as well as Alzheimer's, and even an increase in all all-cause mortality." Pooja mentioned that while a one-off use of antacids occasionally is not contraindicated, using it daily as a lifestyle can cause harm to your health. "Please understand that suppression is not the answer for reflux. In most likelihood, you don't have a surplus acid problem, but actually a low acid problem, and that requires a root cause to be addressed, which is your food, your habits, your stress, and many more," she concluded. Watch the full video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pooja Makhija (@poojamakhija) In her previous Instagram post, nutritionist Pooja Makhija talked about hormonal changes and how they affect women during menopause. She started the video by saying that headaches are common during menopause. They can get worse if you have had them before, or they might even begin during the perimenopause phase. She pointed out that 'correcting how you eat' and 'how you hydrate' can help overcome these problems of menopause. 'You are not alone! We are not alone. Together we will turn all these symptoms into our strength,' reads the caption of her post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pooja Makhija (@poojamakhija) Head to Pooja Makhija's Instagram profile for more medical advice and health tips. Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
NDTV
01-05-2025
- NDTV
Nutritionist Shares How To Include Sugar Bomb Mango In Weight Loss Diet
Mangoes, fondly known as the 'king of fruits,' are a true summertime favourite of many. Yet, despite their popularity, mangoes are often unfairly avoided by those trying to lose weight or manage diabetes. The common belief is that their natural sweetness leads to high sugar content and sudden blood sugar spikes, making them unsuitable for diabetic or weight-conscious individuals. Celebrity nutritionist Pooja Makhija has debunked this myth, saying that mangoes can, in fact, be a part of a healthy diet – even for those watching their weight or blood sugar levels. The key, she says, is not to eliminate mangoes entirely, but to eat them smartly and in moderation. In her latest Instagram Post, nutritionist Pooja Makhija discusses how to consume mangoes this summer season if anyone is facing problems related to weight loss or not getting enough sugar. Pooja said that mangos have a low glycemic load of around 9. This indicates that consuming the fruit does not result in a sudden spike in blood sugar. Bananas, on the other hand, have a glycemic load of around 12 to 13. The load increases to more than 15 after eating two dates, Pooja added. She explained that mangoes have a low glycemic load because it contains about 83% water, which makes it a low-calorie fruit. Mangoes also contain health-promoting polyphenols, vitamin A, vitamin C, and loads of fibre, besides sucrose (sugar). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pooja Makhija (@poojamakhija) Smart ways to eat mango as per the nutritionist Pooja Makhija further suggested smart ways to eat mangoes: Instead of eating the fruit alone, eat it with some protein or fat, such as almonds, walnuts, or flax seeds. She has also advised to eat mangoes after workout because our metabolic rate boosts post workout, leading to faster digestion. She added that a handful of mangoes is advisable. Be careful to eat the right amount of mango, eat only a handful at a time. Avoid making aamras or milkshakes. When mango is crushed, its fibre breaks down and its sugar is absorbed quickly, which can increase blood sugar, Pooja said. In conclusion, Pooja noted that misconceptions regarding mangos are frequently the cause of the worries. Mangoes can be a tasty and nutritious option if consumed properly. With this information, you can enjoy mango without the regular diabetic concerns. Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
