The Allahabad High Court has recently determined that police stations are unsuitable place for child visitation.

The Court highlighted that exposing children to the environment of a police station could negatively impact their development, as they might witness distressing incidents and interactions that are inappropriate for their age.

The division bench of Justices Saumitra Dayal Singh and Donadi Ramesh, who formed the bench, expressed concern that such exposure could have enduring adverse effects on a child's growth, especially in cases where the child is already coping with the stress of their parents' troubled relationship.

The Court also pointed out that children might be exposed to accident or assault victims, harsh language, or the sight of handcuffs—elements that are detrimental to their well-being and not conducive to a positive experience.

"All those visuals may not be such as may be voluntarily added to the child's memory, especially when the child is himself undergoing a trauma of having parents who are living in discord. The emotional scale of the child is not to be burdened unnecessarily," said the division bench. 

The observations were made in an appeal filed by Lakshmi Prakash challenging a family court's order that permitted minimal visitation rights at a police station. Prakash contended that this arrangement was impractical.

The High Court directed that the family court's decision be revised to allow visitation at a more suitable location, such as within the family court premises, at the vulnerable witness center, or another appropriate site with adequate security measures, if necessary, with assistance from the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA).