Ottawa hustles teen out of India and away from her parents

The National Post

Canadian consular officials in India helped bring 16-year-old Japneet Kaut Ghuman back to Canada on Aug. 14 over the objections of her parents, who insisted she remain in Mohali, Punjab, the family's ancestral hometown.

Foreign Affairs stepped in after an Indian high court ordered the parents to surrender custody of their daughter. The court ruled it was in her best interest to return to Canada, the "Asian Pacific Post":http://www.asianpacificpost.com/news/article/106.html reports.

"She was taken to the airport by one Canadian consular officefto ensure that there would not be any problems at departure,' said Reynald Doiron, a Foreign Affairs spokesman.

She is now living in foster care on Montreal's south shore.

Ms. Ghuman's parents brought their daughter to India two years ago, but she did not like it and could not adjust. She did not speak Punjabi and said her truck-driver father had tricked her into going.

"They sent me here to learn our culture. I want to return to Canada," she was quoted as saying. "I do not want to spoil my parents' reputation, but they did not understand me."

Ms. Ghuman asked her teachers at Yadvindra Public School for help, and also approached the Canadian consulate in Punjab and the Canadian high commission in New Delhi, Mr. Do-iron said.

The principal sought legal advice and contacted police, who put the girl in the school's care until the matter was resolved. The parents petitioned the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh claiming the school was interfering in family matters.

Pushpinder Raur Shahi, her mother, said she brought her daughter to India for her own good,

"Japneet has been troubling us ever since she was a child. This is the reason we brought her here. We have always considered her welfare," she said. "Parents bring up children with a lot of difficulties. But under the influence of the Western culture, children forget them."

Mi. Ghuman claimed her parents had beaten her and subjected her to mental abuse. She said they would starve her for failing to understand the Punjabi alphabet. "In Canada, when they ill-treated me, I called up the police a couple of times. Here, they think they can get away with anything."

In a surprise judgment, Justice Nirmal Singh ruled in the girl's favour. He ordered the parents to turn over Ms. Ghuman's Canadian passport and called for security arrangements to guarantee her safe passage out of Mohali.

"We are relieved now," said Har-ish Dhillon, the school principal. "A sensitive and fair judge has pronounced a considerate decision. I wish success and peace to Japneet," he said.

"The court has rescued me," Ms. Ghuman said at the time. "Once I am in Canada, I will join studies again hi September under foster care .... My parents should respect my individuality."