85-yr-old abandoned woman seeks mercy killing from High Court

An 85-year-old widow asked the Gujarat High Court to direct a speedy trial of her pending case to get maintenance from her daughter-in-law who abandoned her after her son's death or pemit "mercy killing".
"On October 5, 2012, I filed an application in the Upleta civil court to get maintenance from my daughter-in-law, which is pending in the court," said a letter written by one Labhuben Devjibhai Makawna (85), a resident of Fulwadi area in Bhayavadar village in Rajkot district, to the Gujarat High Court on May 18.
"When will judges understand their responsibility to dispose of such simple and straight cases? Had judges taken such a case seriously, I would have not brought this issue to your notice," the letter said.

"If I am not entitled to maintenance as per the law, then I urge passing of an appropriate order or give me permission for mercy killing," the letter said.
"Due to old age, I cannot walk and I remain ill. I am in a pitiful condition. Therefore, I urge the court either to give me maintenance or allow my mercy killing," she stated.
Labhuben had been living with her brother Jayendra and his wife, who are both hearing and speech impaired, for around three years at Bhayavadar after her son's death in 2012, her letter stated.
In her letter, Labhuben stated that her husband died nearly six decades ago and since then she had been living with her son Pravin, daughter-in-law Damyanti and two grandsons.

"After Pravin, who was a government employee died, my daughter-in-law Damyanti left me and refused to keep me," her letter stated.