Old couple gets maintenance

New Delhi: Weeks after a city court intervened to provide maintenance to an aged mother, Munni Devi, who had been neglected by her four employed sons, the court has once again come to the rescue of an aged couple who were forced to file a petition in court against their younger son who had refused them maintenance.
Metropolitan magistrate Nirja Bhatia, in a recent order said, "In view of the statements made by the parties, a consent decree be drawn to which respondent (the son), is directed to make payment of Rs 2,500 a month on 10th day of each month by depositing it in the account of the parents." "In terms of undertaking respondent shall bound down," the court added.The court decided the case in just two hearings.
The father, 67-year-old Dayaram and mother 63-year-old Kamla (both names changed on request), had filed the petition through their counsel N K Bhadauria and Manish Bhadauria in the court on February 23, 2008 and had submitted that they had two sons who were staying separately from them. While their elder son was supporting them, he was unable to take care of all their expenses. Their younger son had refused to pay any maintenance, the couple said.
Following the petition the court summoned their younger son, Jitender, who initially appeared in the court and sought time. He later discussed the matter with his parents and agreed to pay them a monthly amount of Rs 2,500.
After the court's decision, the couple said that they were satisfied with the order. Dayaram was also happy as he felt that he did not have to visit court more than twice. "I am happy that I did not have to come to the court again and again. My case was decided within two hearings'' he said.
According to Prof Sanjai Bhatt, who teaches social legislation at Delhi School of Social Work, the new trend of aged parents approaching courts for making their children to support them is because they are left with no other options.
"In this age, the institution of family is under tremendous pressure. The children seem to have a set of values different from that of their parents, which seems to be the major problem," he said.
Bhatt is also of the opinion that with better facilities and better health amenities, the population of the aged is on the rise in the country and there is a real threat that in future, the problem of neglected parents could increase.
(sriharshk@timesgroup.com)