Tue Feb 04 19:12:25 UTC 2025: ## Rajasthan High Court Awards Custody to Mother After YouTube Videos Reveal Child Neglect
**Jodhpur, Rajasthan:** The Rajasthan High Court has awarded custody of an 11-year-old girl and her 7-year-old brother to their mother following a habeas corpus petition. The mother, who left her marital home after her husband’s death, alleged neglect by her in-laws, who had refused to relinquish custody of the children.
Crucial evidence presented to the court included YouTube videos allegedly created by the 11-year-old girl while living with her paternal grandparents. One video showed the girl posing with a syringe, prompting the court to express serious concern about the children’s well-being and the impact of social media.
Justice Pankaj Bhandari’s bench deemed the grandparents negligent and irresponsible, citing the videos as proof of inadequate supervision and care. The court noted the girl’s alarming behavior in the videos, including mimicking violent acts. The girl’s lawyer, Manish Sharma, highlighted the grandparents’ age and inability to provide proper care, alleging the children’s diet consisted largely of junk food. The mother also stated that her in-laws actively undermined her parental authority by giving the children unrestricted access to mobile phones.
The paternal grandfather denied knowledge of the videos, blaming the maternal grandmother for managing the girl’s YouTube channel. He further accused the mother of fabricating allegations to estrange the children and intends to appeal the High Court’s decision to the Supreme Court.
First Piper 