Son Sentenced to Prison for Abandoning Elderly Parents in Pune Village
In a significant judgment that underscores the legal protection afforded to senior citizens, a judicial magistrate in Pune has convicted and sentenced a man to three months of rigorous imprisonment for abandoning his elderly parents. The case, which highlights the growing issue of elder abuse in India, saw the court take a strong stance against the mistreatment of senior family members.
The Court Judgment and Legal Proceedings
Judicial Magistrate First Class Himmatrao Bajad presiding in Junnar delivered the verdict on November 19, convicting the younger son of an 80-year-old retired Mumbai Port Trust employee under Section 24 of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007. The convicted son received a sentence of three months of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of ₹5,000.
Meanwhile, the court acquitted the elder son after establishing that his son and daughter-in-law were living with and caring for the elderly couple in their Nimgaon Sava village residence. This distinction in the verdict demonstrates the court's careful consideration of which family members were actually fulfilling their responsibilities toward the aging parents.
The convicted younger son was arrested on November 10 and is currently lodged in the Yerawada central prison, according to confirmation from a senior prison official and assistant public prosecutor M S Ghodke who spoke with media on Monday.
Background of the Case and Evidence Presented
The legal proceedings began when the 80-year-old retired employee filed a formal complaint with the Narayangaon police in Junnar on May 13, 2023. In his complaint, the senior citizen accused both his sons of seizing his agricultural land, forcing him and his wife out of their home, and leaving them without adequate food or care.
During court proceedings, evidence presented by the elderly complainant and his 70-year-old wife revealed a troubling pattern of exploitation. The couple had transferred 51 gunthas of agricultural land to their younger son based on his promise to care for them in their old age. However, instead of honoring this commitment, the younger son took possession of the land and subsequently abandoned his responsibility toward his parents.
Assistant Public Prosecutor Ghodke stated, "The court found that the younger son not only abandoned his parents but also took agricultural land and money from them. The court stated the act done by the accused was heinous and very despicable."
Court's Strong Message on Family Responsibility
In its ruling, the court emphasized the emotional trauma inflicted on the elderly parents, noting that "the victims have suffered lots of mental pain due to the acts of the accused." The judgment contained strong language condemning the son's behavior and outlining the importance of family obligations.
The court explicitly stated, "The accused should have thought about responsibility for the family. Responsibility of the family cannot be taken as a licence to commit any offence and get away." This statement reinforces the legal principle that family relationships do not provide immunity from prosecution for wrongdoing, especially when it involves vulnerable elderly members.
This case represents one of the increasingly common instances where Indian courts are strictly enforcing the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, which was specifically designed to protect elderly citizens from neglect and abuse by their family members. The judgment serves as a warning to those who might consider abandoning their responsibilities toward aging parents, particularly after benefiting from transfers of property or assets.
