Courts should not order psychological examination of child victims as a matter of routine in custody battles and sexual abuse cases, as such orders can re-traumatise a disturbed child, the Supreme Court has said, and issued directions to be followed in such matters. The court issued directions to be followed in such matters. (HT PHOTO) A bench of justices Sanjay Karol and N Kotiswar Singh on Thursday asked courts to adopt a cautious and child-centric approach that prioritises a child’s dignity, emotional security, and psychological well-being over the interests of litigating parents. “Since the psychological growth and welfare of the child is closely intertwined with the psychological condition of the parents, it would be desirable for the courts to call for psychological assessment reports of both the parents, as it will aid in passing appropriate orders in respect of the welfare of the child.” The court passed the order after a woman from Maharashtra challenged two Bombay high court orders (2023), subjecting her 10-year-old daughter to a psychological assessment at the instance of her father, accused …