The Supreme Court has ruled that children who neglect their elderly parents cannot claim rights over their property. Delivering the judgment on Thursday, the Court stated that parents have the authority to evict such children from their homes if they fail to provide care.
The ruling came after an 80-year-old couple from Maharashtra approached the Court, citing abandonment. The Court referred to the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, which makes it the legal responsibility of children to support their aged parents.
Earlier too, the Court had upheld similar principles. In one case, a couple from Madhya Pradesh petitioned against their son, who failed to honour his promise of care. The Court ordered that the property given to him be returned to his parents.
The Supreme Court clarified that tribunals set up under the Act have full authority to revoke property transfers to negligent children and restore them to parents. With India’s elderly population growing, the ruling is seen as a crucial safeguard for senior citizens who are often left vulnerable.
