Legal Principle: Parents are not liable for wrongs committed

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Legal Principle: Parents are not liable for wrongs committed by their children unless they provide the opportunity for such wrongful acts to be committed by their children.

Fact Situation: Sunil, a minor, takes the keys to his father’s car from the table top where his father keeps it, drives the car on the public road and hits a pedestrian who gets injured.

Which of the following statements is the most appropriate in relation to the legal principle stated above?

[CLAT 2018]

A Since Sunil took the car without his father’s permission, his father is not liable for Sunil’s act resulting in the accident

B Sunil’s father is liable for the conduct of Sunil resulting in the accident since he left the car keys where his son could easily take it without permission.

C Accidents happen despite utmost care and hence neither Sunil nor his father is liable in the instant case.

D Sunil’s father is not liable since he had kept his car locked and securely deposited its keys without negligence on his table top.