Two sons ordered to pay maintenance to mother after she files DV case

A local court in Ahmedabad has granted significant relief to a 65-year-old woman that her two sons ordered to pay maintenance to mother after she files DV case. Rs- 10,000 each per month as maintenance.

In addition to financial support, the court barred both sons and their wives from causing any form of physical or mental harassment to the elderly complainant. Notably, the court also ruled that she must be provided a room in the house—registered in her name—and explicitly prohibited her eviction. Furthermore, the sons were ordered to pay a one-time compensation of Rs 25,000 for the domestic violence she endured.

The case dates back to 2021, when the woman approached authorities after her situation worsened following the death of her husband in 2020. He was a retired employee of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). The woman alleged that after his death, her sons began siphoning off a large portion of her pension and mistreating her.

Despite the property being solely in her name, she claimed that her sons, their wives, and even her grandchildren consistently humiliated her. They allegedly pressured her to transfer the property and attempted to remove her from the house located in Ahmedabad’s Naranpura locality.

Initially, she approached the local police for help. When the harassment continued, she filed a formal complaint under the Domestic Violence Act, requesting both protection from abuse and financial support. She also urged the court to intervene and prevent her family from forcing her out of her home.

After considering the circumstances, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of Ahmedabad (Rural) issued an order emphasizing her right to reside in her own house and live without harassment. The court directed the respondents—her two sons and their wives—not to engage in any behavior that could cause her further physical or psychological harm.

This ruling highlights the broader scope of the Domestic Violence Act, which, although primarily aimed at protecting women in intimate relationships, also serves to address elder abuse within family settings. By securing both financial relief and residential security, the court recognized the woman’s vulnerability and the need to uphold her dignity and autonomy.

The case underscores a growing recognition in Indian courts of the intersection between domestic violence and elder neglect. It also affirms that legal remedies are available to senior citizens who face exploitation or mistreatment within their own homes—especially by close family members.