Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: In a major diplomatic win for India, the Norwegian Child Welfare Service (CWS) on Tuesday decided to award custody of the two children, one-year-old Aishwarya and three-year-old Abhigyan of the NRI couple Sagarika and Anurup Bhattacharya , to their uncle.
"This week, the CWS in Stavanger completed its talks with the uncle in the child welfare case
concerning two Indian children. It has been concluded that care of the two children should be awarded to the brother of the children’s father enabling him to take the children back
to India," CWS said in a press statement.
The development will enable the NRI couple to bring their children back to
India.
The proposed solution will be presented on March 23, the provisional date for the hearing, to Stavanger District Court, which will take the final decision in the case.
This arrangement requires, however, that the Child Welfare Service ensures that the necessary legal framework and follow-up procedures are in place in order to safeguard the children’s best interests and enable the uncle to deal with the situation in the best possible way, CWS said.
Abhigyan and Aishwarya were taken away by Barnevarne Norwegian CWS last May on the ground of "emotional disconnect" and put in a foster home.
Ministry of External Affairs has been making huge efforts to impress upon the Norwegian authorities to find an amicable and urgent solution to the row with Minister SM Krishna
assuring that the children would be brought home at "any cost".
The decision taken by the CWS has come as a big relief to the NRI couple.
“This is the greatest moment of our life,” Anurup told reporters.
However Anurup added that the kids will only be able to come back to India by March end but still they have not got any official information.
While thanking the Indian envoys meet, Anurup said “the meet has brought out this positive outcome.”
Earlier in the day the family members had lodged in a foster home in Norway and met External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, who had assured them that the children would be brought home at any cost.
