Indore siblings lodge police complaint against parents for scolding them
What's the story
Two siblings from Indore took legal action against their parents for reprimanding them over excessive screen time.
The complaint was filed at the Chandan Nagar police station on October 25, 2021, by a 21-year-old woman and her eight-year-old brother.
They claim their parents not only chastised them for prolonged use of mobile phones and television but also physically assaulted them.
Legal proceedings
Police register case under multiple sections of IPC
The police have registered a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Juvenile Justice Act.
The charges include IPC sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 342 (wrongful confinement), 294 (uttering obscenities), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (common intention).
Additionally, charges were filed under sections 75 (cruelty to child) and 82 (corporal punishment) of the JJA.
If found guilty, these charges could result in up to seven years imprisonment.
Defense argument
Parents defend actions as normal parental discipline
Represented by Advocate Dharmendra Chaudhary, the parents defended their actions as standard parental discipline.
They stated that they had repeatedly advised their children before resorting to scolding.
"Every house is troubled by the children's addiction to mobile and TV," they argued in court. "Scolding children is a normal thing. This happens in every house."
The parents also criticized the police for acting unilaterally without considering their side of the story and moved the high court.
Legal developments
HC issues interim stay, siblings move in with aunt
Last week, the Madhya Pradesh High Court issued an interim stay on the trial.
"Recently, the main accused in the case, the father of the children, Ajay Chouhan, had filed a petition before the Indore Bench of the MP High Court under Section 482 CrPC in the case. On hearing the matter on July 25, the High Court stayed the proceedings of the trial court," Chaudhary said.
The siblings have been residing with their paternal aunt since filing the complaint.