A court has directed a man to give Rs 1,000 as monthly maintenance to his mother, saying the “son cannot be absolved of his responsibility”.

An additional sessions asked north Delhi resident Gorang Haldar to pay Rs 1,000 as maintenance, on a petition filed by his 74-year-old mother Asha Lata Haldar, challenging a magisterial court order declining her interim maintenance plea.

“He cannot be presumed to be not working or non-earning and therefore cannot be absolved of his responsibility to maintain his mother,” the court said.

“Since the petitioner is drawing pension of Rs 1,000 per month, in addition, the respondent is directed to make the payment of Rs 1,000 per month to the petitioner from the date of filing of petition till the disposal of petition before the trial court,” the judge said.

The woman had moved the sessions court challenging the magisterial court decision, which had refused to grant her maintenance.

The mother had claimed maintenance from her son on the ground that he had failed to provide any monetary help towards her food, clothing and other needs.