6-month jail for deserting parents
Officials claimed that those who are earning well can afford to pay a higher maintenance amount to their parents.
New Delhi: Children found ill-treating elderly parents may soon get a harsher punishment of up to six months’ jail as the Centre is planning to increase the maximum prison term for such an offence from the existing three months.
Sources claim that the ministry of social justice and empowerment has reviewed the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, and suggested widening of the definition of term “children” to include adopted or step children along with sons-in-law and daughters-in-law who are responsible for maintenance of parents.
The new definition of “children”, according to the ministry’s proposal, would also include grandchildren and minors who are represented by their legal guardians. According to the existing Act, only biological children and grandchildren are covered by the definition of “children”.
The ministry has already finalised a draft proposal of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizen (Amendment) Draft Bill, 2018, which, once cleared by the Cabinet and Parliament, will replace the present Act.
According to the draft, the upper limit of Rs 10,000 per month as maintenance for elderly parents would be done away with, thus, making it variable depending upon the income of their children. Officials claimed that those who are earning well can afford to pay a higher maintenance amount to their parents.
The ministry has also proposed that the definition of maintenance would include safety and security of parents as well, officials added.