Indian couple sue son over no grandchildren

Parents petition courts for grandkids - 6th June 2022

A lawsuit's been filed by disgruntled parents against their son and daughter-in-law for failing to provide a grandchild following 6 years of marriage. It's causing a stir with families across India.

61 year old Sanjeev Prasad and his 57 year old wife Sadhana Prasad claim to have eaten up their precious nest egg in bringing up their only son. Forking out for his pilot instruction overseas, as well as his lavish wedding and honeymoon, has left them feeling embittered and feeling it's payback time so they've issued an ultimatum: either provide a grandchild within the year, or reimburse them 50 million rupees, equivalent to $650,000.

Although their son and daughter-in-law have been keeping a low profile, a detailed reading of the court petition indicates that relations between the families are fraught. Sadhana Prasad described how their son's refusal to have children had placed them at the mercy of "taunts from society", subjecting them to "mental torture".

We are very unhappy," confirmed husband Sanjeev, elaborating that "We are retired. We want to be grandparents. We are even willing to look after their children. Grandchildren bring joy into people's lives, but we are being deprived of it."

This case of would-be grandparents initiating court proceedings against their own offspring is perhaps a first in the country, but it's something in which everyone - from parents and parents-in-law to near and distant relatives and the wider society - feels they have a say.

"In India, marriages are between families and not just a couple," underlines social anthropologist Professor Vasavi, adding that the "cultural logic" in the Prasads' petition is that "expecting grandchildren is a norm." She continued, "they feel they have the right to a grandchild because in our society, marriage is seen as an institution that sanctifies procreation and once married you are expected to reproduce for the family, the caste and the community."

While Professor Vasavi added that the parents were employing the economic rationale that "since I've spent money on your education and upbringing, now you have to fulfil my cultural rights," it remains to be seen whether the court will reach the same verdict.