Parents Cannot Dominate their Wards Education Choice, says High Court

Many of you, who are working as Engineers, Doctors, Lecturers or any in other professional field, may have faced lots of issues when you had planned to take up your career. Well, while a very few of your parents would have said 'yes', at the first shot. But, most of your parents would have surely opposed to your choices.

From a long time, it has been a practice that parents decide on what their child/ward must study and what professional field he/she should pursue, even without the child's consent. Today, the time has changed. Yes, students are smart enough to know their capabilities on what they can do and what they cannot. They completely rely on their interests.

Most of us are aware of students, who study Engineering or Doctor courses for the sake of their parents. Parents tend to dominate their choices on their wards. They forcefully ask them to study a course, which they feel is the most opted ones in today's world.

Lately it was proven that a majority of parents do not ask their wards about their choices. For instance, say 'Which course are you interested in? What do you want to become in the future? Or What are your interests?

However, the High Court has ruled over it. Yes, The Bombay High Court, this Monday said that parents can't influence the child's education choice.

The decision came after businessmen who refused to fund his three daughters for studies abroad. During observation on the case, it came into light that the father of three had challenged the FC to grant him Judicial separation from his family. And the Family Court had directed him to pay Rs. 7,500 per month for his daughters till they turned 18.

In 2012, the HC had directed him to deposit Rs 10 lakh for their education. This year, the HC ordered him to pay Rs 15 lakh for the admission of one daughter to the London Business School.

When the argument was taken further, the father refused and blamed that his wife and other two daughters earning well. As a result, Justice Patel said "Don't make children pawns in your battle. Your daughters do not have to hear allegations in public."

The businessmen's counsel Desai said, their father would pay for their higher studies in India. "Management education in India is better than in foreign countries," Desai said.

In-turn Justice Oka asked, "Are you suggesting that parents can influence children regarding education? We are dealing with grown-up children. If a child feels she has better prospects abroad, what is wrong with that? It is a fact of life that grown-up children are keen on going abroad for better education. We don't agree with your proposition that daughters must not go."

Now, the future of their daughters lie on their mutual consent. The couple must share the responsibility of their daughters education, said the justice.