Udupi: Son swindles 86-yr-old woman’s property

 

Udupi, 14 Feb 2014: The Human Rights Foundation, Udupi, has lodged a complaint with the Kundapur assistant commissioner on behalf of an 86-year-old woman after one of her sons allegedly ill-treated her and swindled her of the property.

 

Dr Ravindranath Shanbhag, president of the foundation, said Savitriamma, who was living behind Sri Krishna Temple, Udupi, had divided the land among her eight children.

 

One of her sons, who lived with her, moved to Mumbai a few years back to work as a cook. Thereafter, another son allegedly moved into Savitriamma’s house with his wife, even though he owned a house elsewhere.

 

Over a period of time, he rented his property out and managed to transfer his mother’s in his name. He allegedly took her to a sub-registrar’s office for the property transfer under the pretext of clearing the formalities for a car loan from a bank.

 

Last year, when she was bedridden after taking ill due to lack of food and medical attention, one of her daughters in Mysore arrived to take care of her. When Savitriamma recovered, she found out that power bill was issued in her son’s name, instead of her husband’s.

 

She then approached Dr Shanbhag. "The son confessed that he had indeed swindled the property and gave it to me in writing last November," said Dr Shanbhag.

 

Since the property had not been handed over to Savitriamma, Dr Shanbhag approached the Kundapur assistant commissioner under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act. Dr Shanbhag said this Act makes it a legal obligation for children and heirs to provide maintenance to senior citizens and parents, by way of a monthly allowance. It also provides simple, speedy and inexpensive mechanism for the protection of life and property of the elderly.

 

Dr Shanbhag said the assistant commissioner will have to dispose of the case within 90 days. In case the person responsible to look after the parents/elders disowns his responsibility, the court is empowered to impose fine of up to Rs 5,000 and a three-month imprisonment. The accused do not have the privilege of seeking lawyers’ service.

 

Dr Shanbhag said there are many cases of abuse of the elderly and hoped that this law will be an eye-opener.