Raja and Servai

In the matter of *Raja and Servai*, heard by Hannam J, the dispute concerned parenting orders for a child born in 2003. The proceedings involved Ms Raja, identified as the biological mother, and the respondent father. The court was required to determine various aspects of parental responsibility, living arrangements, and contact between the child and the father.

The central legal issues before the court included whether service of the initiating application and application in the case upon the mother should be dispensed with, the allocation of sole parental responsibility for the child, the child's residence, and the imposition of restraining orders against the father. Additionally, the court considered the dismissal of the mother's application filed on 19 November 2015 and the recommencement of the child spending time with the father.

Hannam J made several orders, dispensing with service of the initiating application and application in the case upon Ms Raja. The court ordered that Ms Raja have sole parental responsibility for the child and that the child reside with her. Furthermore, the father was restrained from attending within 200 metres of the mother's residence or place of employment. The mother's application filed on 19 November 2015 was otherwise dismissed. Finally, both parents were directed to take all necessary steps to ensure the child recommenced spending time with the father in accordance with interim orders dated 14 April 2014 as soon as practicable.