Mumbai Police Enforce Tribunal Order, Evict Son from Father's Suburban Apartment
In a significant enforcement of senior citizens' rights, Mumbai police recently evicted a man from his 70-year-old father's suburban apartment, nearly ten months after a Parents and Senior Citizens Tribunal issued a directive for vacation. The operation was conducted in the presence of an officer from the Borivli tehsildar's office, marking the culmination of a protracted legal and familial dispute.
Background of the Property Dispute and Tribunal Intervention
The tribunal's order, delivered in May 2025, mandated that the son vacate the property owned by his father. However, the son continued to occupy the apartment despite the ruling. This non-compliance prompted police to communicate with the tribunal, which subsequently appointed an officer from the Borivli tehsildar's office to oversee the eviction process.
The case originated in December 2024 when the septuagenarian father approached the tribunal. He detailed that his elder son, who had moved in approximately a decade earlier, subjected him to harassment and threats. After the father lodged a non-cognisable complaint with police, the son initially moved out. Seeking to fund medical expenses, the senior citizen decided to rent out the apartment, but his son threatened the tenant and forcibly took possession of the property in 2023 after the tenant departed.
Legal Proceedings and Counter-Allegations
In his submission to the tribunal, the son argued that he never prevented his father from entering the house and claimed a right to reside there as it was his childhood home. He also made counter-allegations of harassment against his father. Over the past decade, both parties had filed multiple non-cognisable complaints against each other, and a civil suit remains pending.
After reviewing documents and submissions from both sides, the tribunal observed that the apartment was legally owned by the senior citizen. It ordered the son to vacate within one month and issued additional instructions:
- The son must not engage in actions detrimental to his father's physical and mental health.
- He is required to pay a monthly maintenance of Rs 5,000 to his father.
The tribunal further ruled that if the son failed to comply, his father could seek police assistance under the Maharashtra Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules, 2010.
Enforcement and Legal Maneuvers
Police served a copy of the tribunal's order on the son. In November 2025, the son emailed the police station, stating he had approached the Bombay High Court, which directed him to the Dindoshi sessions court. In response, police wrote to the tribunal, leading to the appointment of the tehsildar office officer to execute the eviction.
This case underscores the effectiveness of legal mechanisms designed to protect senior citizens from exploitation and harassment, particularly in property disputes involving family members. The enforcement highlights the collaborative role of police and administrative offices in upholding tribunal decisions and ensuring justice for vulnerable elderly individuals.
