'Daughters Are Daughters Forever, Sons Are Sons Till They Are Married': Bombay HC Upholds Direction Under Senior Citizens Act To Son To Vacate Flat Of Elderly Parents

The Senior Citizens Act mandates that children or relatives are obligated to cater to the needs of the senior citizens so that they 'live a normal life', free of any harassment, the Bombay High Court said, directing a Mumbai resident and his wife to vacate his elderly parents' flat within a month. The Court observed that the man and his family living on his 90-year-old father's property (which has been gifted by him to his daughter) against the parent's wishes was harassment and defeated the parents' right to a 'normal life.' Accordingly, it dismissed the son's appeal against the Maintenance Tribunal order asking him to vacate the premises. "..Section 4 clearly provide that the obligation of the children or relatives would be to cater to the needs of the senior citizens so that they 'live a normal life'…this would certainly include within its ambit, protection from any harassment and torture meted out by a son or relative by keeping himself on the premises owned by the senior citizens..." The Court reiterated the old saying about daughters standing by their parents forever but sons sticking around only till they get married. "Before parting and having noticed that this is a case where the old parents are suffering at the hands of the only son and daughter-in-law, it appears that there is certainly some element of truth in the popular saying that 'daughters are daughters forever and sons are sons till they are married' albeit there would surely be exemplary exceptions," the HC said. The Court held that the several legal proceedings between the parties are the evidence of the feeling of torture and harassment by the parents. Moreover, the property in question is not an ancestral property on which the son can claim any legal right. BackgroundThe parents (father aged 90 years and mother aged 89 years) had approached the Maintenance Tribunal, against the harassment by their son. The Tribunal ordered the son and family to vacate the flat in which his elderly parents were residing.Challenging the Tribunal's order, the son and his family filed a writ petition before the High Court.At the very outset, the High Court observed that it was a "sad case" and expressed concern at the "misery of the parents" The son and his family argued the plea on two grounds. First, they claimed that since a local court had already passed an order in the 89-year-old mother's favour not to dispossess her from the house under the Domestic Violence Act, the elderly couple was precluded from approaching the senior citizen's tribunal. Moreover, since the elderly parents had gifted the flat to the daughter, it could not be called the their own property to invoke section 4 of the Act. The counsel for the parents argued that this was a clear case where the parents at such advanced stage of their lives are tortured and harassed by the petitioner nos. 1 and 2. He cited instances of inhuman treatment being meted out to the parents to grab the flat. The Court held that the senior citizens would in no manner be precluded approaching the Tribunal, as Section 4 of the Act would include all facets of maintenance. Moreover, the father was not party to the DV proceedings. "It is thus clear that the intention of the legislature in making such provisions in the interest of senior citizens, covers a wide spectrum of the senior citizens rights, which are fundamental to the their very survival and/or livelihood at their old age. Certainly the Court's approach cannot be narrow and pedantic in applying the provisions of the Senior Citizens Act to the grievances of the senior citizens falling within the ambit of the said Act.""Normal Life" under Senior Citizens Act has a deeper meaningSection 4 clearly provide that the obligation of the children or relatives would be to cater to the needs of the senior citizens so that they 'live a normal life'. The words "normal life" as used in these provisions would possess a far deeper and wider concept, deriving its meaning and having a bearing on the fundamental rights of livelihood as guaranteed and enjoyed by senior citizens under Article 21 of the Constitution.The Court also noted that the term "property" under Section 2(f) mean property of any kind, whether movable or immovable, ancestral or self acquired, tangible or intangible and which would include rights or interest in such property.The argument that the parents could not assert rights in the flat as they had gifted to their daughter was rejected by the Court noting that they had rights and interests in it.The Court noted that the son was affluent and had properties of his own. Despite that, he was harassing his elderly parents, who just wanted to lead a peaceful life."The present case is a sad story of desperate parents who intend to be in peace at such advanced stage in life. Whether such bare minimum expectations and requirement should also be deprived to them by an affluent son, ...

'Daughters Are Daughters Forever, Sons Are Sons Till They Are Married': Bombay HC Upholds Direction Under Senior Citizens Act To Son To Vacate Flat Of Elderly Parents

Sharmeen Hakim

The Court said that the Senior Citizens Act protects the right of elderly parents to have a "normal life" free from harassment.

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