Court orders estranged twins to spend father’s birthday with him

A Delhi-based doctor got the gift of a lifetime after a city court allowed his plea to spend his birthday -- December 31 -- with his estranged twin daughters. The 43-year-old, who has been estranged from the girls since their birth, was given the relief in a custody battle he is embroiled in with his wife, also a doctor.

A Delhi-based doctor got the gift of a lifetime after a city court allowed his plea to spend his birthday -- December 31 -- with his estranged twin daughters.

The 43-year-old, who has been estranged from the girls since their birth, was given the relief in a custody battle he is embroiled in with his wife, also a doctor.

In a separate criminal case, he has been accused by his wife of trying to have her abort the girls. The case was widely reported in Indian and international media.

“When the doctor said I was carrying twins I was very happy. But the moment we entered into his house my in-laws were mourning and they said we can’t bring up two girls,” the girls’ mother said in her criminal complaint. She added that despite facing obstacles, she took the pregnancy to term and gave birth to twin daughters in 2005. She subsequently left her husband, alleging abuse both from him and his family.

This November, a trial court had ruled that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the wife’s claims. An appeal against this dismissal remains pending.

In the custody case, which the doctor filed in November, the family court ruled that the girls’ mother would bring them to a designated mall in Rajouri Garden between 10 am and 4pm.

“Both the children shall be bought...for the purposes of celebrating the birthday (on 31-12-2015),” directed additional principal judge Reena Singh Nag.

The family court added that neither of the girls’ parents should bring any other persons with them. However, their mother remains afraid. “They have not seen him or met him since birth. I am happy that the court directed that I should be there with them as well,” she told HT.