PNS | DEHRADUN
The Dehradun district magistrate Savin Bansal has served an ultimatum to adult progeny to either respect and care for their old parents or face legal action under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, including eviction from the family property.
During the public hearing held on Tuesday, a senior couple from Premnagar complained to the DM about being harassed by their sons. Considering this, he ordered the sons that either they respect and care for their parents or face legal action as per the law. He also instructed the police to take immediate action in such cases through the Senior Citizen Cell to ensure justice.
The DM received 60 complaints in the public hearing, predominantly concerning land disputes, interpersonal conflicts, health, municipal issues, education and welfare services. One of the prominent cases involved an elderly resident from Niranjanpur, GMS Road, who had been seeking to get an uncontested inheritance registered for the past three years. The individual complained about officials repeatedly misleading and delaying the work. In view of this, the DM directed the sub-divisional magistrate concerned to investigate and resolve the matter soon. Similarly, a widow from Deepnagar approached the DM citing financial distress and the lack of any income source.
The DM immediately waived one-third of her pending water bill and facilitated her enrollment for a pension under the Social Welfare department. The DM also intervened in the case of a contractual plumber employed at the district hospital, who complained about being paid below the Labour department’s prescribed wages.
The DM ordered the chief medical superintendent to ensure compliance with the prevailing wage rates, failing which the discrepancy will be deducted from the CMS’s own salary. A woman from Tapovan highlighted a land dispute involving property purchased in 2007 in the Vikasnagar area. She alleged that the land was being forcibly encroached upon by some people from Uttar Pradesh while her husband worked abroad. The DM directed officials to provide her with legal assistance and a government-appointed lawyer to safeguard her rights. Another woman shared her plight of domestic harassment and denial of property rights by family members. Bansal instructed the district programme officer to provide her with support through the One-Stop Centre and initiate legal proceedings.
