For the first time, the Delhi Police registered its first case under Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 against a 35-year-old man and arrested him for allegedly abandoning his old mother in South Delhi’s lodhi Colony on Sunday. Police said the case was registered on August 16.
According to a senior police official, the accused has been identified as Ranu, who does a private job and stays in lodhi Colony.
On August 16, Ranu’s 75-year-old mother Parvati was found abandoned by a police around lodhi Colony. Police said the old woman was not dressed shabbily and was roaming about close to the lodhi Colony police station. That is when the PCR officials found it suspicious and took her to the police station.
“She was picked up by police and next day admitted to an old age home by the investigation officer in Bindapur. After that matter was apprised in the concerned court, the judge had ordered for an enquiry of her family as finding her abandoned was a case of missing and that she could not be admitted to an old age home without the court’s permission or the consent of her blood relations,” said the police official.
Police started investigating into the matter and found out about the old woman’s “blood relations” and came in contact with her son Ranu, the accused in the case.
On interrogation of the accused, he said that his mother mentally not fit and that they did not know when she left home and went missing.
“As per the maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens act, 2007 this case was an act of negligence by the accused as he could not take care of his mother’s well being and safety. We had to register a cognizable offense case against the accused. We then arrested Ranu under section 24 of the act,” said the police official adding, “ Since it was a bailable offence the accused was given bail,”
Initiated by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India,the act was enacted in 2007 to provide more effective provision for maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens. The Act make it a legal obligation for children and heirs to provide maintenance to senior citizens and parents, by monthly allowance. This Act also provides simple, speedy and inexpensive mechanism for the protection of life and property of the older persons.