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Topics: World News
Cameron Frew
An Indian couple have filed a lawsuit against their son and his wife because they've yet to bring them a grandchild.
Having children was once more of a foregone conclusion; it's the circle of life after all, and people have long found themselves – whether it be intentional or not – growing up, having kids, watching their kids have kids, and dying.
Nowadays, the presumptions aren't quite so strong. There is still a fair amount of judgement pointed to those who decide not to have kids; some people believe it's an absolute must, others just want to live their lives or don't feel they'd be good parents.
For others, it's mostly a financial issue. For example, Sanjiv Ranjan Prasad and his wife Sadhana Prasad, residents of Haridwar city in the northern state of Uttarakhand, has cited financial struggles for suing his son for not providing a grandchild.
His son got married back in 2016, and Mr Prasad had 'hopes of having a grandchild'. Alas, six years later, they've yet to have a child together.
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According to Mr Prasad, his daughter-in-law and family control the couple's finances, which has allegedly impacted them having a child.
Mr Prasad told the ANI news agency, as per The Independent: "We didn't care about gender, just wanted a grandchild."
If the couple fail to provide a grandchild over the course of the next year, Mr Prasad is seeking compensation of Rs 50 million (£530,000).
It's considered traditional for women in India to bear children within the first few years of marriage.
Prasad continued: "I gave my son all my money, got him trained in America. I don’t have any money now. We have taken a loan from the bank to build a house. We’re troubled financially and personally.
“We have demanded Rs 25m (£264, 366) each from the son and the daughter-in-law."
Mr Prasad has also cited the Rs 20m (£258,322) he spent in order to properly raise his only child, as well as a pricey car and Rs 500,000 (£5,285) for the couple’s honeymoon in Thailand, according to his petition.
AK Srivastava, the advocate representing Mr Prasad and his wife, told the outlet: "The couple has the freedom to not give birth to a child, which is why we are asking to be compensated.
"The amount is just given the money Mr Prasad has spent on his son’s upbringing... such new cases are important as they lead to the formation of new laws."
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