General principles
1C1 Principle on which questions relating to custody, upbringing etc. of minors are to be decided.
Where in any proceedings before any court (whether or not a court as defined in section 15 of this Act)—
a
the F1legal custody or upbringing of a minor; or
b
the administration of any property belonging to or held on trust for a minor, or the application of the income thereof,
is in question, the court, in deciding that question, shall regard the welfare of the minor as the first and paramount consideration, and shall not take into consideration whether from any other point of view the claim of the father, . . . F2 in respect of such F1legal custody, upbringing, administration or application is superior to that of the mother, or the claim of the mother is superior to that of the father.