Neglecting your elderly parents can now fetch you up to three months in jail under a special law that was put into force on Thursday to mark World Elders’ Day.

Lending tooth to the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, that was implemented on Thursday, nine maintenance tribunals were also opened to hear cases of senior citizens who face neglect or ill treatment.

The tribunals will function out of the additional district magistrate’s office at all nine revenue districts and meet twice a week. Each tribunal will have a chairman and two members.

The tribunals have been invested with powers to issue summons seeking help and directing the police to take action. They can also direct children or relatives to provide maintenance of up to Rs 10,000 monthly to senior citizens.

The main role of the Act is, however, that of a reconciliatory body. The case will be referred to a maintenance or conciliation officer who will be appointed from among the district officers of the Social Welfare department.

“The official will contact children of the elderly and try to reach a middle ground. If that does not work, the matter will be reported back to the tribunal,” a social welfare official said.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said: “We are considering opening more tribunals in each sub-division of the Capital. Every citizen needs to be dutiful towards his parents and thereby be more worthwhile to the society.”

The Act mandates that all children who abandon or neglect their parents are liable to face penal provisions and imprisonment up to three months or a fine of Rs 5,000 or both.

... contd.