In Karnataka, the maximum number of cases (827) against children for abandoning aged parents has been registered in Bengaluru Urban district.
| Photo Credit: V. Raju
Directors of all government medical colleges have been instructed to strictly file cases in Assistant Commissioner (AC) courts under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, against children who admit their elderly parents seeking treatment but eventually do not return to discharge them.
Medical Education and Skill Development Minister Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil said that a recent review of government medical colleges revealed that a total of 3,010 cases have been registered in AC courts across Karnataka under this law, ever since it came into force. Of these 2,007 cases have been disposed of and 1,003 cases are pending.
Most cases in Bengaluru
The maximum number of cases (827) has been registered in Bengaluru Urban district, of which only 274 cases have been disposed of.
In Hassan district, 588 cases have been registered, of which 581 cases have been disposed of.
No cases have been registered in Uttara Kannada and Davangere districts, as per data from the Department for the Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens.
It is a Union Government law that allows for filing of cases in AC courts against children who abandon their elderly parents. There is the option of collecting maintenance charges from children who do not take care of their elderly parents. There is also the option of withdrawing assets transferred or bequeathed in the name of the children, he explained.
Such cases had been flagged recently in Belagavi Institute of Medical Science (BIMS).
Effective Act
“This is an effective act. When the cases are filed, both the parties come forward to resolve the problem. If not, the AC will issue an order,” said the Minister, underlining the need to create awareness about the law.
He noted that there are fewer cases of abandonment in rural pockets and among the poor since families are more cohesive there. “However, such incidents have increased in urban areas,” he said, adding that, in case of non-resolution, abandoned parents are sent to old age homes. “When society does not take care of senior citizens, the law will have to step in,” said Dr. Patil
Published – April 05, 2025 12:59 pm IST
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