I am writing with regard to the article “Delay in deciding divorce cases leave children uneducated” (May 14). Divorce should be looked at from the emotional angle as well as from the financial angle. One parent having custody of children, indulging in denying them the love, access and affection of the other parent is the worst form of emotional cruelty and is a violation of the human rights of children, as well as of the affected parent. The UK is mulling a Cinderella Law to counter child cruelty under which emotional cruelty toward children will be considered a crime punishable by 10 years in prison. The denial of simple pleasures of life, such as the love, access and affection of a parent affects the normal growth of a child. Why should children be treated like a football by warring parents? A child needs the love and affection of both parents. The UK is also planning to enact a law on shared parenting, which is sorely needed in many nations. Even the United Nations Charter on the Rights of Children is silent on the issue of such violations of the human rights of children and non-custodial parents. A child should have a proper relationship with both parents. Judges also need training in dealing with sensitive family issues. We should learn from the Chinese where the warring parents, judge and lawyers sit around a table to deal with family matters, instead of in the usual courtroom atmosphere. Matrimonial cases should not be a milch cow for lawyers, and reconciliation should be the objective in order to save families from breaking up. Deendayal M.Lulla, Mumbai
