Is Indian woman bound by US court order?

A US court has directed a woman to return with her two children, who are US nationals by birth. Urvi Mahajani reports.

A US court has directed a woman to return with her two children, who are US nationals by birth.

HT Image

Sharad Cocasse, who settled in the US nine years ago, has filed a petition seeking that his wife Aparajita be directed to return to the US with their two minor daughters.

As Aparajita failed to abide by the US order, Sharad filed a habeas corpus (produce person in court) petition in the high court. His petition states that for the seven years that they were together in the US, Aparajita did not once complaint or have any grievance.

A division bench of Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice Mridula Bhatkar on Friday asked Sharad’s wife Aparajita to file a reply by February 10.

Sharad, an engineer, married Aparajita in November 2001 according to the Hindu rites in her hometown, Pune. A month after their marriage, Aparajita, an architect, joined him there.

In June 2008, the Cocasses visited India with their five-year-old and three-year-old daughters.

Sharad returned to the US in July 2008. Aparajita and the daughters were supposed to return in September 2008.

“She and her parents even insulted my parents,” said Sharad’s petition. His advocate Vasant Dhawan said on December 22, 2008, a US court directed Aparajita to return to the US with the girls.

“We have prayed that Aparajita be directed to bring their two minor daughters before the court,” said Dhawan.