The parents of a pilot have sued their son and daughter-in-law on grounds of mental harassment as they claim they have been deprived of the joy of grandchildren even after six years of marriage. They want their son to pay them Rs50 million or produce a child within a year. The amount sought is to recompense them for paying for his pilot training abroad, the wedding expenses at a five-star hotel and a luxury car.
In India, many parents of adult children long for grandchildren and feel deprived if these are not provided soon after the marriage. The pressure to bear children can be stressful for some couples, especially if both are working. Of course the couple has the reassurance that the babies will be well looked after by their parents. But this is only possible if the grandparents also stay in the same city. However, many young couple are also asserting their right to choose when they start a family, if at all.
This yearning for grandchildren seems to be universal. I know my sisters kept referring to friends who became grandparents before them and wondered when they would be as lucky. When their turn came, however, they realised that the new parents were firmly in charge and they would have to abide by a new set of rules.
They would have to toe the young parents’ line. The new parents swore by Google and refused to acknowledge that the older generation knew a thing or two about bringing up children.
A long wait
Next in the state of Uttar Pradesh, a man has filed a complaint against his parents. He was in love with a woman but his parents’ excessive dowry demand had delayed his marriage. Since the woman was unable to afford the wish list of the man’s parents, the couple is still waiting for a wedding celebration like that of the man’s siblings. They do not want to settle for a court wedding. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long wait.
Property and family disputes account for 76 per cent of litigation in India. Property disputes are very common here. Recently, sons attacked their father for giving their sister a share of his property. Unfortunately, in many states, only the sons are entitled to their father’s property.
The argument is that parents spend a lot on their daughter’s wedding, including expensive gifts. I know several families whose members are estranged over property disputes. Siblings take each other to court for an equitable distribution of wealth. What is sad is that these court cases usually drag on for years and require a lot of effort and money to pursue.
Then there are the frivolous lawsuits such as the student in Pennsylvania who sued her teacher over a C+ grade. She felt that this would prevent her from getting a degree and would cost her $1.3 million in lost earnings! A $10 dry cleaning bill turned into a $67 million civil lawsuit.
However, this did not have a happy ending for the man who sued. Refusing to accept $12,000 from the owners for the missing suit, the man’s greed got the better of him and he kept pushing the envelope. Not only did he lose the case but was ordered to pay the defendants’ legal fees.
Another man actually sued Michael Jordan for having similar facial features. He also sued Nike founder Phil Knight for turning Jordan into such a recognisable figure. Apparently he had grown tired of being mistaken for the National Basketball Association (NBA} star for the last 15 years.
As they say “Where there’s a will, there’s a lawsuit”. People are getting smarter nowadays: they are getting lawyers instead of letting their conscience be their guide.
Vanaja Rao is a freelance writer based in Hyderabad, India
