India, Oct. 25 -- The Orissa high court has dismissed a father's appeal for custody of his 11-year-old son, saying that a child "is not an inanimate object like a ball in a tennis court to be tossed from one side to another till a point is scored."

"Deciding the custody dispute of the children between their parents and their in-laws is the most difficult job inasmuch as a child is not an inanimate object like a ball in tennis court to be tossed from one side to other side till a point is scored and, therefore, while deciding a custody matter, a court is to be very careful and cautious to decide the same without any biases and prejudices in finding out the best welfare of the child," Justice G. Satapathy said, while reaffirming that in al...