How Did Haryana Panel Intervene for Elderly Parents Facing Harassment?

Chandigarh, July 21 (NationPress) In response to a troubling complaint, the Haryana Human Rights Commission, on Monday, issued a decisive order in favor of 82-year-old Arjan Dev Aggarwal and his 72-year-old wife Vijay Aggarwal, who reside in Sector-9 of Panchkula. The couple has accused their son and daughter-in-law of ongoing mental harassment, neglect, and coercion to transfer their property.

The complaint details that, despite their advanced age and serious health issues necessitating multiple surgeries, the couple has faced isolation, verbal abuse, and psychological trauma while living with their son and daughter-in-law.

They claim to have been threatened with placement in an old-age home and even faced false accusations in a domestic violence case.

Previously, they submitted an eviction application under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, to the Senior Citizen Tribunal in Panchkula on January 18, yet have not received any relief to date.

The commission stated that under Section 4 of the Act, senior citizens have the right to seek maintenance from their offspring; under Section 23, any property transferred with the condition of care can be declared null and void if that condition is not met; and Section 24 makes it a punishable offense to abandon a senior citizen.

Justice Lalit Batra, Chairperson of the Haryana Human Rights Commission, emphasized that such treatment violates not only the 2007 Act but also constitutes a severe infringement of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which assures the right to live with dignity.

He described the actions of the respondents as a blatant case of abuse, neglect, and coercion.

Given the prima facie evidence of abuse against these elderly individuals, the commission has instructed Monika Gupta, the Deputy Commissioner of Panchkula, to guarantee immediate protection for the elderly couple through local law enforcement or other relevant authorities, expedite proceedings in the Senior Citizen Tribunal, and provide necessary administrative support, along with an action-taken report to be submitted to the commission before the next hearing.

Puneet Arora, Protocol, Information and Public Relations Officer of the commission, announced that the next hearing is scheduled for September 23, and copies of the commission's order have been dispatched to the Deputy Commissioner and the Commissioner of Police of Panchkula, Sibash Kabiraj, as well as to the complainants for compliance.