HC seeks Delhi govt's reply on aged man's plea for maintenance

The Delhi High Court today sought response from the Delhi government on a 78-year-old man's plea seeking maintenance and facilities to enable him to live a dignified life after he was allegedly abandoned by his son.
Justice Vibhu Bakhru also issued notice to petitioner's son seeking his response on the allegation made by his father that his son neglected and abandoned him.
Advocate Ashok Kumar, appearing for the Delhi government, accepted the notice and agreed to file the reply by November 26.
The petition, filed by the man, a Delhi resident, through his counsel Sanjay Shah, alleged that he was "exposed to emotional neglect and lack of physical and financial support by the respondents (the Delhi government and the son)."

The counsel also contended that the "son has abandoned and neglected to maintain the petitioner, who is his father".
"The petitioner is unable to lead a normal life due to the galloping inflation and cost of living especially in a city like Delhi.

"It is the responsibility of respondent no.1 (Delhi government) being a state to provide mechanism of care and protection for the elder person and because the respondent no 2 (son) has neglected his duties to provide sufficient maintenance to the petitioner," the plea said.
Seeking direction to the city government for his care and protection, the plea said that "it is responsible for establishment of old age homes, medical support for the senior citizen and also to take other measures which are necessary for the welfare of senior citizens".

"It is significant that the old age homes maintained by the Delhi government are just not up to the mark, moreover due to the huge demand of the applicants, it is not able to provide shelter to each and everyone who approaches them," it said.
The man had first approached the Delhi Legal Services Authority which directed his son to pay of Rs 1,000 per month to him in 2002. However, due to non-compliance of its order by his son, the petitioner approached the Maintenance Tribunal which granted him a relief of Rs 10,000.
Aggrieved, the man approached the High Court seeking maintenance, care and protection from his son as well as the Delhi government.