During the last month, I had received an email from one of my blog readers, who is a retired Govt Teacher (residing in AP). Her story is a heart-touching one… Though she receives a monthly pension, it is not sufficient to meet her living expenses, as she is suffering from a Critical Illness, which requires medical treatment every month. She is now even unable to meet her day-to-day expenses.
She has also informed that she gifted a rental income generating property to her daughter (when her daughter was in a deep financial trouble) around 6 years back. And unfortunately, no one is taking care of her now.
Her main query to me is – Is it possible to take back my property from my daughter? Is this legally possible?
I have recollected a topic which I had first come across when I was pursuing my CFP (Certified Financial Planner) course..this topic is regarding, ‘Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act’.
I have informed her all the details which I know about this Act and she is now taking help of a civil lawyer and fighting for her rights.
So, what is this Act all about? What are the legal provisions mentioned in this Act regarding maintenance support to elderly parents and senior citizens?
MWPS Act has been passed by the Parliament of India and got the assent of the President of India during 2007. The main objective of this Act is to provide more effective legal provisions for the maintenance and welfare of parents & Senior Citizens.
Parents (or) Senior citizens who is unable to maintain himself or herself is entitled to make an application under this Act to get monthly maintenance amount from his/her children.
What is Maintenance & Welfare? – Maintenance is defined in the Act as including “provision for food, clothing, residence and medical attendance and treatment”.
Who can claim Maintenance ?
How much can be claimed under this Act?
How to claim maintenance?
The above rules and details are related to maintenance that can be claimed by the parents or senior citizens irrespective of whether they have transferred any property or not to their children.
Let’s consider a scenario – A parent / Senior citizen transfers a property (by Gift or any other mode, after 2007) to his/her children or anyone with a condition that they have to take care and look after their needs and amenities. And, if such promise is not fulfilled, does not even provide basic amenities to lead a normal life then such Parents / senior citizens can file an application to the Tribunal to consider such Transfer of Property as VOID (as per Section 23 of the Act).
The parents or senior citizens can get such property transfers voided (cancelled) at their option by having such transfer treated as a fraudulent or coercive acquisition and seek return of their property so transferred. (Read : ‘5 ways of transferring your Real Estate Property!‘)
The senior citizens can either get back their property (or) can also file an application to claim maintenance amount from the income generated by such Property (which has been transferred).
Other Important Points
Senior citizens should be treated as a human being entitled to all the basic human rights, human dignity and human sympathy. It is, therefore, important that Government and the community play a proactive role in taking care of them.
You can get a HOME LOAN to buy a property. You can get a PERSONAL LOAN to meet your short-term financial goals. You can get an EDUCATION LOAN to fund your higher education (or) to fund your Kid’s higher Education. But, you don’t get a loan to fund your RETIREMENT.
So, if you are an youngster, do save / invest for your retirement as early as possible. Your top most priority should be to save and invest for your retirement. Do not think that it’s too early to start planning for retirement. It is very important that you start early for your retirement, so that you can accumulate adequate Retirement corpus and do not depend on your Children/family financially during the fag end of your life.
Continue reading : ‘Retirement Goal Planning in 3 simple steps!‘
(Image courtesy of Sira Anamwong at FreeDigitalPhotos.net) (Post first published on : 15-May-2017)
This post was last modified on July 11, 2023 6:37 pm
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Hi me and my husband got married this year and we rented an apartment in town and his parents were also living with us as this is what I wanted. However his sister has narcissist personality disorder and has been spoilt her who life and has caused nothing but problems for us even to the point she told my father in law to poison us by contaminating our food. As a result we moved out as my husband felt it was not safe to continue living there despite me still paying the rent 8 months on. She has moved into the property with parents and has been with them for 8 months and now finding it unbearable to take care of them and got my father in law to file a false case against my husband saying he is not providing maintenance for them when I have been paying the rent and bills for the last 8 months. My husband had to close down his business and does not have an income and his sister is adamant I should give into her ransom demands of cash. She is separated from her husband for last 10 years and she also put a false case against him preventing him from divorce. She has property from parents? Gold worth 52 Lakhs and other cash and works full time. Whereas my husband has no assets no income and cannot pay maintenance until he finds a job. What can my husband do and who should he contact. Also can my husband ask the court to order her to return all the gold, property and assets she has from parents and him if she refuses to take care of them.
Dear Sreekanth,
My granny has transferred her property to her son before 2007. Now her son is not taking care of her. Can she get back her property?
Dear Vyankatesh,
If the Transfer has happened after 2007 then she can approach the tribunal and can re-claim the property or apply for welfare maintenance from her child.
can a parent who resides in Delhi file a petition before the Maintenance Tribunal under Section 23 of the Maintenance Act, 2007 seeking eviction of her daughter and her family members from a residential property situated in U.P. because of parental abuse committed by the said daughter ? This question is important from the view of territorial jurisdiction which is raised by the District Magistrate at Delhi who presides over the Tribunal. Pl help with the judgment.
Dear Mr Dass,
Though this Act extends to the whole of India (except the State of Jammu & Kashmir), the legal provisions listed under this Act may vary from State to State, as this Act is notified and can be amended (if required, from time to time) by the respective State Governments.
So, a parent or senior citizen can submit an application for maintenance and welfare to ‘Maintenance Tribunal’ (Senior Citizen Forum) located in the concerned district only I guess.
Suggest you to kindly consult a civil lawyer and take advice.
Dear Srikanth
Hello! I need guidance from you about the same act.My father has filed a case under MWPS against my brother and his wife for eviction from the house.My brother has already left the home on his own wish but his wife still residing at the same place.All hearings and arguments are done. SDM said that you will receive order in maximum 10 days but it has been 15 days my father has not received any letter or order from SDM office. We heard but not sure that there are some amendments happening in the same act so they have reserved the order and waiting for the amendments. We are confused what to do?
And can my father go to Deputy commissioner for the same?
Dear Ranjana,
The respective States can modify and notify the MWPS act.. So, the possibility of new amendments can be your State specific, which I am not sure and do not have information!
Yes, you may wait for few more days for the Tribunal to pass their Order, else your father may approach DC / Conciliation Officer regarding this matter.
Dear Sreekanth ,
Very good information . Am from small village and am seeing many such cases in my village .
Thank you very much for sharing with us about this law .
Regards
Brahmareddy.S
Hi Brahma Reddy,
I am in urgent need of a sample application and details for MWPS act. Needed to help a widow woman of 65 years. could you please help. My number 88862249**
can I give the complaint in plain writing?
last four digits 4949
Dear Kranti ..I believe that complaint has to be given in the appropriate application form.
Dear Kranti,
One can get the application form at local District court (Senior citizen forum tribunal). You may kindly take help of a civil lawyer.
Thank you dear Brahma Reddy!
Kindly share the information with your friends and well-wishers!
Dear Mr. Reddy,
What is the HIBA (Gift) act per Muslim Personal Law? I believe, it is used to transfer immovable property from parents to children orally and the same is recorded on a stamp paper with two witnesses. It does not require registration with sub-registrar. This act I understand has the blessing of supreme court.
Could you please elaborate on this?
Regards
Mohammed
Dear Mohammed,
I believe that as per Muslim Law, HIBA (Gift) can be oral and written, but getting it (Gift Deed) done on Stamp paper may not be mandatory.
Kindly go through below articles ;
Article 1
Article 2
Sir, I am senior citizen widow lady and depend on rental income, where the tenant is refusing to pay me rental and dishonouring his cheque for the 3rd time with intention. Please help
Dear Malleeswari,
If valid rental agreement is done, and if he/she is violating the terms then you can ask them to vacate the property.
Extreme step - you may take help of a civil lawyer .
Thanks for the Information
hi Shreekant
Loan for retirement..... I had heard about reverse home loan.... in this loan applicant apply for loan on his property bank will provide monthly EMI to property owner and his spouse till they live
Can you pls check and give detail information on this page
Regds
Dear Nishant,
I was expecting this comment from at least one of my blog readers :)
I have mentioned about 'reverse mortgage' at the end of my article on 'retirement planning'.
You may kindly read my brief article on Reverse mortgage..
Reverse mortgage has not really picked up in India, reason being, strong emotional attachment to the house, and Mortgaging the house is an uncomfortable idea.
But, yes RM can be a good way to suppk