A Jain man has approached the family court seeking custody of his seven-year-old daughter, alleging that his estranged wife plans to make the child take diksha as a monk against his wishes. The petition, filed under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, requests that he be appointed the girl&rsquo;s legal guardian to protect her interests.
Family Court Judge S.V. Mansuri has issued a notice to the mother, asking her to respond by December 22.
According to the petitioner, the couple married in 2012 and have two children, but have been living separately since early 2024. He claimed that the parents had previously agreed that their daughter could choose monkhood only after attaining maturity. However, he alleges that his wife is now insisting that the child take diksha at a large ceremony scheduled in Mumbai in February 2026.
The petition states that in April 2024, the wife left their home with both children and moved to her parents&rsquo; residence, saying she would return only if the father agreed to the daughter&rsquo;s initiation. She later allegedly decided to proceed with the ceremony regardless of his consent.
The father argued that at seven years old, the girl is too young to make such a life-altering decision. He also claimed that his wife regularly took the child to religious gatherings and once left her alone with a guru at an Ahmedabad ashram without informing him. The petition further alleges that when she later left the child at a monk&rsquo;s ashram in Mumbai, he attempted to meet his daughter but was denied access.
The court will now hear both sides before deciding on the custody and guardianship request.

Jain father seeks custody, says mother wants seven-year-old to take early diksha

Father Moves Court to Stop Minor’s Diksha Plan

Jain father seeks custody, says mother wants seven-year-old to take early diksha

December 10, 2025 | 18:55 IST