‘Thrown Out by My Own Children’: Pune’s Elderly Find Hope Through Collector’s Office

Pune, 5th April 2025: In a strong move to safeguard the rights of senior citizens, the Maharashtra government has directed District Collectors to take action against children who attempt to evict their elderly parents from their own homes. In such cases, not only will justice be ensured for the elderly, but the salaries of the offending children may also be withheld if they are government employees.

Many elderly parents—despite being legal owners of their homes—often suffer emotional distress and harassment at the hands of their own children. To address this, the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 empowers senior citizens to seek help directly from the Collector’s office, without needing to approach the courts.

Speaking about the issue, Deputy Collector Jyoti Kadam said, “If children neglect, harass, or try to evict their parents, they can be ordered to pay monthly maintenance or, in some cases, be evicted themselves if the property legally belongs to the parents.”

In Pune city alone, the Collector’s office receives 20 to 25 complaints every month related to mistreatment of senior citizens. These cases are dealt with promptly, and officials often find that sons act under pressure from their spouses—yet the law is clear: no child has the right to remove a parent from their own property.
Between January and early April this year, the district administration has helped 42 elderly individuals reclaim their homes and restore their peace of mind. While such incidents are rising in urban areas, they remain relatively rare in rural parts of the district.

Senior citizens facing such challenges are encouraged to submit a written complaint to the District Collector’s office, which will take necessary legal action under the provisions of the Act.

One affected elderly parent shared their story:
“My daughters threw me out of the house that I owned. They even took away the compensation I had received after an accident. I had no money, no one to turn to. Then I learned about this law and filed a complaint with the Collector. Now my case is being heard, and for the first time in a long while, I have hope.”
Authorities urge families to resolve conflicts with compassion, but have made it clear that the legal rights of senior citizens will be upheld firmly and without compromise.