New Delhi, Mar 22 (Agencies): Refusing to handover the two Indian children back to their parents, the Norway's Child Welfare Services (CWS) has cancelled the hearing on a final agreement in the custody case scheduled for March 23.

According to the media reports the abrupt decision follows  the public disclosure of the rift between the parents of the two children in the custody of  CWS.

"New developments involving two Indian children make it impossible to carry out the hearing in Stavanger district court that was scheduled for Friday, March 23.

A NDTV report quoted CWS as saying,"The conflicts over the last few days between the parents and their respective families mean that the conditions for entering into an agreement of this kind are no longer present," NDTV quoted CWS as saying.

The Indian Government also had put on hold on Wednesday the visit of a senior External Affairs Ministry official to Norway in connection with the child custody case amid reports that there were differences between the parents.

"Government has tried its best to bring the children home so that they have a future in the country. But a new situation has developed.... we cannot interfere. The visit of a Joint Secretary (to Norway) has been postponed," Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur told reporters outside Parliament House.

She said the government will look into the situation before taking the next step.
Anurup Bhattacharya, father of the two children- Abhigyan (3) and Aishwarya (1)- has reportedly filed for legal separation from his wife Sagarika. He has alleged that he was being repeatedly beaten by his wife.

The children are in the care of Norway's Child Welfare Services. Two MEA officials were scheduled to hear the custody hearing of the children on March 23 in Stavanger.