Grandparents aren't nannies, raising children parents' responsibility: Pune court
What's the story
Favoring senior citizens, a Pune family court ruled that grandparents shouldn't be thought to be babysitters.
"(It's) a prevalent presumption that grandparents are a substitute for nannies," replied the court, when a woman complained that she had to put her kids in a crèche as her in-laws were vacationing.
The court was following-up on her 2012 plea asking for maintenance from her estranged husband.
'Don't burden them'
'Seniors need their own space, time, entertainment, pleasure and rest'
Judge Swati Chauhan said that it's a prerogative of the elders to take care of their grandchildren, and they shouldn't be burdened with it.
"They need their own space, time, entertainment, pleasure and rest," she said, adding that raising children should be parents' responsibility.
Citing Gerontology, the scientific study of old-age, the court insisted that society should now focus on needs of the aged.
Court ruled
Husband ordered to fund children's education, maintenance
Arguing her case, the woman said her husband had been neglecting his financial duties since the birth of their first child two decades ago.
She had to rejoin her job and couldn't take care of the four-month-old infant. The crèche charges were borne by her.
The court noted it and ordered the husband to fund the children's education and continue paying maintenance and arrears.