Supreme Court: If Daughter Expects Father To Support Education, Should Play Role As A Daughter. Erm, What?

A couple had approached the court with a divorce case after the wife moved out of her husband’s home and started residing in her parental house along with their daughter. While hearing the matrimonial dispute, the Supreme Court observed that if a daughter is expecting the father to support her education, then she will also have to play a role as a daughter. Erm, but what does the ‘role of a daughter’ entail here?

The Bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MM Sundresh were presiding over the case. The case was an appeal filed by the man challenging the judgement passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court with regards to the divorce petition. The Bench had earlier directed the father to pay the education expenses of the 20-year-old daughter while referring both parties to the Supreme Court Mediation Centre. They were later informed that the mediation between the parties had failed.

Senior Advocate Nidhesh Gupta, representing the husband, submitted that the daughter had declined to meet the father and did not appear on video calls too. He further added that a father-daughter relationship works both ways, it cannot be a one-way street where the daughter expects the father to bear the expenses of her education and marriage. 

Responding to the submission, the Court stated that the daughter ‘must appreciate’ things if she expects her father to support her education while adding that she will also have to fulfil her duties as a daughter. Excuse me, but what exactly the ‘role’ of a daughter implies here? And what about a son’s role? Does he get a right for everything that his father possesses without playing any kind of role or any expectation? 

Noting that the virtual mediation between the couple was not successful, it said, “Learned counsel for the parties submit that another effort may be made to mediate with the physical presence of the parties.”

We are well aware that parents do so much for their children and provide all the necessities of life. However, if they are always expecting them to be grateful for it, then it’s the wrong kind of parenting and does not make sense at all. Instead, the parent should give time and try to understand the reason why his child doesn’t want to meet him.

Also Read: Supreme Court: You Can Divorce Your Wife But Cannot Divorce Your Children

Talking about the case, the Court directed for the matter to be placed before the Supreme Court Mediation Centre yet again to work out a formal settlement between the parties and file it before the court. The Bench has also asked the daughter to join the mediation process. In fact, the mediator has been directed to make arrangements for an exclusive meeting between the father and the daughter. The next hearing of the case has been scheduled for February 22, 2022. 

Supreme Court Rules It Is Not Rape If A Woman Has Sex Knowing That Marriage May Not Happen. We Say It Makes Sense!