The Supreme Court of India, in a significant observation on Monday, expressed deep concern over the rising incidents of drunk minors causing fatal accidents while driving cars, squarely blaming their parents for enabling such dangerous behavior. The apex court highlighted a disturbing social trend where affluent parents, due to their busy schedules, compensate for lack of time with children by providing them with money and extravagant gifts like sports cars, which can lead to tragic consequences on the roads.
Court's Stern Remarks on Parental Negligence
A bench comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan lamented the prevailing social conditions, stating that parents who fail to control their children and allow them access to vehicles and alcohol are ultimately responsible when minors end up crushing innocent lives. The bench emphasized that celebrations should not involve driving at high speeds and killing pedestrians or the poor, noting that such incidents are not isolated and reflect a broader societal issue.
"Something has to be said about parents. Parents were unable to control the children. They took keys. Celebration cannot be driving at full speed and killing people on footpath or the poor. This is not the first time such a thing has happened. Law has to catch up. The main one responsible is parents who give money to kids to have a gala time. Parents have no time to spend with children and talk to them. Instead they give mobile, ATM cards and cars," the bench observed during the proceedings.
Bail Granted in Pune Porsche Accident Case
Despite its strong criticism of parental roles, the Supreme Court granted bail to three accused in the high-profile Pune Porsche accident case, where two young engineers lost their lives in May 2024. The accident occurred around 2:30 am on May 19, when a Porsche car, allegedly driven by a juvenile in an inebriated state, rammed into a motorcycle in Pune.
The accused had approached the Supreme Court after their bail plea was rejected by the Bombay High Court. The bench ruled that there cannot be punishment before trial and directed the release of the three individuals, who have already spent 18 months in jail. They were allegedly involved in tampering with evidence by swapping blood samples of their children with their own in an attempt to cover up the incident.
However, the father of the main accused, a minor who was allegedly driving the car at the time of the accident, remains in jail, underscoring the ongoing legal scrutiny in this case. The Supreme Court's decision to grant bail while condemning parental negligence highlights the complex interplay between legal procedures and social accountability in addressing such tragedies.
