Children to lose property if parents ignored in UP

Children  who abandon their parents and leave them at the mercy of others could lose right over their properties and face imprisonment or fine in Uttar Pradesh as the state adopted the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007.

UP is the last state to have adopted the act. All other state governments have already adopted it.

The state government decided to adopt the act the cabinet meeting here on Tuesday.
The act provides for punishment that includes imprisonment up to three months and a fine of up to Rs 5,000.

The parents may approach the tribunal if their children do not fulfill their basic needs after their properties are divided among them. The aggrieved parents could get the registration of properties declared as void if this happens.

The children would lose rights over such properties. The act also provides for construction of an old age home in every district.

It contains provisions forcing the heirs to pay an allowance up to Rs 10,000 to them.
Lawyers will not be allowed to take up such cases in the tribunal and both parties, parents and the children, will have to plead their own cases.

The decisions of the tribunal could be challenged in the high court.