The Maldivian Family Court ruled for the first time on Thursday, mandating that the father of a child under state custody cover the cost of looking after the child.
The Family Court said this ruling was made regarding a child brought under state care as they did not have a safe environment with their parents or any relatives that would assume care of the child.
It was the state that filed the case, seeking to cover the cost of looking after the child, from their father. The court decided the father should pay MVR 16,219 for all the costs of the child monthly. The father has agreed to this as well.
The court said this amount was agreed upon because the child was a special needs child who required additional care. The amount included medical care, food, rent, utilities, and the staff employed by the facility as well.
According to the Child Protection Act, the state can recover the costs incurred from the parents of a child in its custody.
The court also observed that section 43 of the Child Protection Act makes it mandatory for the parents of the child to hand over the expenses of the child to the caretaker if another party is taking care of the child while both parents are alive, as it is the fundamental responsibility of the parents to take care of the basic expenses of the child.
It also makes it the duty of the state to hold parents accountable if they are negligent in paying their childrens expenses.
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