Senior Citizens Cannot Be Denied Company, Particularly Of Siblings & Close Relatives: Kerala High Court Tells Maintenance Tribunal
Case: Jagadesh Ramachandran v The Maintenance Tribunal, Thiruvananthapuram
Coram: Justice Devan Ramachandran
Case No.: WP(C) NO. 13607 OF 2023
Court Observation: “ That said, there is one aspect that this Court also intends to say adscititiously, namely, that as long as the senior citizen wants such company or presence, no one would be authorised to deny the same to her, particularly that of her siblings and close relatives. The report of the Social Justice Officer speaks on this and it recommends that she be offered the pleasure of such meetings on a regular basis. This shall also be kept in mind by the Maintenance Tribunal, when further orders are issued.”
“I do not propose to speak on the merits of the contentions of the rival parties, or even on the contents of the report of the Social Justice Officer afore extracted; but find it necessary to remind everyone involved that it is the life of the senior citizen we are now involved with. Internecine egos or disputes cannot be allowed to cast any adverse reflection on her dignity or self respect, notwithstanding the fact that she is suffering from dementia. This does not require to be expatiated because the petitioner is her son, who normally ought to be more concerned about this; while the second respondent is her sister, who says that her only intent is to make sure that she lives well for the rest of her life.”
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Senior Citizens, Kerala High Court
