VRI v VRH

[2023] SGHCF 8 High Court (Family Division) 1 March 2023 HCF/RAS 23/2022

5 cases cited Cited by 1 case

Key facts

Court	High Court (Family Division)
Decided	1 March 2023
Judge	Choo Han Teck
Charges / claim	Contempt of Court
Counsel	Grace Chacko Law Practice, Jacob Mansur & Pillai, Grace Chacko, Mansurhusain Akbar Hussein

Source: [2023] SGHCF 8, High Court (Family Division), decided 1 March 2023 — eLitigation. Updated 10 July 2026.

Catchwords

Contempt of Court — Civil contempt

Practice Areas

Contempt of Court

Judges (1)

Choo Han Teck Delivered

Counsel (4)

Grace Chacko Law Practice Firm

Jacob Mansur & Pillai Firm

Grace Chacko Counsel for the respondent

Mansurhusain Akbar Hussein Counsel for the appellant

Parties (2)

VRH Respondent

VRI Appellant

Case Significance

VRI v VRH [2023] SGHCF 8 was decided by Choo Han Teck J in the General Division of the High Court (Family Division) on 1 March 2023, on a Registrar's Appeal from the Family Justice Courts (No 23 of 2022) arising out of Divorce No 4126 of 2013. The appellant (the Mother, VRI) and the respondent (the Father, VRH) obtained final judgment of divorce on 25 June 2015 and have two daughters, presently aged 11 and 13. Since the divorce there had been multiple variations of the orders governing access to the children, the latest being FC/ORC 4813/2021 (the Access Order) made on 15 September 2021, which set out detailed weekday, weekend, school-vacation and Chinese New Year access arrangements. The appeal concerned civil contempt of court in connection with that access regime.

Summary

This was a mother's appeal in civil contempt proceedings after a District Judge found she had breached an access order by unilaterally restricting the children's mobile phone usage, obstructing the father's contact with their two daughters. The DJ had imposed a total fine of $3,500 suspended until the children turn 21. The High Court dismissed the appeal on liability but varied the suspension to one year, with costs payable by the mother.

What was VRI v VRH [2023] SGHCF 8 about?

The Registrar's Appeal (No 23 of 2022) before Choo Han Teck J concerned civil contempt of court arising from access arrangements for the two daughters of divorced parents VRI (Mother) and VRH (Father), governed by the Access Order FC/ORC 4813/2021 made on 15 September 2021.

What was the Access Order in VRI v VRH ([2023] SGHCF 8)?

The Access Order, FC/ORC 4813/2021 made on 15 September 2021, was the latest variation governing the father's access to the two daughters, setting detailed weekday, alternate-weekend, school-vacation and Chinese New Year arrangements following the parents' 25 June 2015 divorce.