Tue Feb 04 21:33:42 IST 2025: ## Rajasthan High Court Awards Custody to Mother After YouTube Videos Expose Child Neglect
**Jaipur, Rajasthan –** The Rajasthan High Court has ruled in favor of a mother in a custody battle, awarding her the guardianship of her 11-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son. The decision followed the presentation of YouTube videos allegedly showcasing the children’s neglect while in the care of their paternal grandparents.
The mother, who filed a habeas corpus petition after the death of her husband and subsequent refusal of custody by her in-laws, claimed her children were not receiving proper care. Key evidence included videos depicting her daughter posing with a syringe and engaging in other concerning activities. These videos, according to the mother’s lawyer, Manish Sharma, revealed a level of unsupervised access to social media and potentially dangerous situations. Sharma highlighted the girl’s YouTube channel and the implication of adult involvement in creating the content. He also alleged the grandparents were too old to properly care for the children and were unconcerned about their health and diet.
The court, citing the disturbing nature of the videos and evidence of negligence, ruled in the mother’s favor, transferring custody. Justice Pankaj Bhandari’s bench emphasized the detrimental impact of social media on children’s well-being in their decision.
The children’s grandfather, while claiming ignorance of the video content, blamed the maternal grandmother for controlling the YouTube channel. He also stated the videos predated the father’s death and intends to appeal the High Court’s ruling to the Supreme Court. The mother, in an interview, stated that her children’s access to mobile phones had been facilitated by her in-laws, driving a wedge between her and her children. The case underscores the growing concern over online safety for children and the role of social media in custody disputes.
First Piper 