The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court has granted custody of a five-year-old girl, who was living with her paternal grandparents, to her mother. The court noted that, after the father's demise, the natural guardian of a minor child is the mother, reported news agency PTI.

A bench led by Justice SG Chapalgaonkar stated on Tuesday that according to the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, the natural guardian of a minor child is first the father, and then the mother.

Therefore, legally speaking, the minor girl should be given into the custody of the mother unless it is established that she has an adverse interest or is incapable of securing the child's welfare, the High Court said.