Retired couple sue to get grandchild

A retired Indian couple are suing their son and daughter-in-law, demanding that they produce a grandchild within a year or pay them 50 million rupees (NZ$1.03m).

Sanjeev Ranjan Prasad, a 61-year-old retired government officer, said it was an emotional and sensitive issue for him and wife Sadhana, and they could not wait any longer. His son, a pilot, married six years ago.

‘‘We want a grandson or a granddaughter within a year or compensation, because I have spent my life’s earnings on my son’s education,’’ Prasad said. He said he spent 3.5 million rupees on his son’s pilot training in the United States.

‘‘At this age we need a grandchild, but [my son and daughter-in-law] have an attitude that they don’t think about us,’’ Prasad said. ‘‘We got him married in the hope we would have the pleasure of becoming grandparents.’’

The court has accepted their petition and scheduled it for a hearing tomorrow in Haridwar, a city in northern Uttarakhand state. The son and daughter-in-law could not be reached for comment.

Prasad said he and his wife loved children. ‘‘We are not getting love and affection from where we want it the most. I feel very unlucky.’’