Ekam Nyaay Foundation conducted research survey to understand the growing issue of Parental Alienation in India, with a special focus on the difficulties faced by fathers in child custody and visitation disputes.

This study, carried out over a period of two months, collected responses from across the country, with significant participation from metro and tier-II cities. The primary aim was to explore how alienating behaviors affect children and targeted parents, and to document the emotional, legal, and procedural hurdles encountered by fathers.

Parental Alienation is a process where one parent influences a child to unjustifiably reject or fear the other parent. This research emphasizes that such manipulation leads to severe emotional harm to both children and fathers, often without any legitimate cause. The study also distinguishes between justified estrangement (when rejection is due to real abuse) and alienation (when rejection stems from manipulation).

Through this research, Ekam Nyaay Foundation aims to highlight the absence of balanced shared parenting laws and the urgent need for reforms.

Fathers across India face prolonged separations from their children, bias in custody decisions, non-compliance with court-ordered visitation, false legal cases, and emotional distress due to alienation tactics.

In many cases, fathers are forced into years of legal battles, while crucial early years of a child’s life are lost. This research was initiated to gather evidence on how deeply these issues are affecting families.

Key findings include:
•⁠ ⁠88% of the respondents had been married for 15 years or less, showing that these disputes arise mostly during the early parenting years.
•⁠ ⁠78% of the affected children are below 10 years old, indicating the formative years are most impacted.
•⁠ ⁠61% of fathers have been separated from their children for less than five years, while 16.7% for 5–10 years.
•⁠ ⁠Only 25% of fathers who approached courts were granted visitation rights. Even when granted, orders are often not followed.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/fathers-losing-out-in-child-visitation-battles-says-report/article69928853.ece

The study also documents real-life case studies from various cities, illustrating the human cost of parental alienation and the urgent need to challenge the presumption of custody in favour of mothers for children below 5 years under Section 6 of the Hindu Minority & Guardianship Act.

Here are real life testimonies of two father's struggling to meet their children :

Dr. Kirpa Johar: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DM7_x4uphIX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Mr. Amit Sharma: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMkCfEIpe43/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Daily Pioneer
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2025/india/only-25--fathers-got-visitation-rights-to-see-their-kids-in-divorce-battles.html

Survey Research Report

Published in Indian Journal of Law and Society

Author - Harsh Asija