Patna High Court Denies Father's Custody, Cites Child’s Welfare with Maternal Grandparents

The Patna High Court denied custody of a 10-year-old girl to her father, stating that she had been raised by her maternal grandparents since her mother’s death in 2016, and shifting her now would cause emotional distress.

Despite the father’s claims that the elderly grandparents were financially and physically dependent, the Court considered his early remarriage, alleged past neglect, and the stable environment provided by the grandparents.

The Court stressed that a child’s welfare outweighs parental rights.

The father was given visitation rights and directed to pay ₹10 lakh for the child's future and ₹7,000 per month for maintenance.