Man asked to pay maintenance to 83-year-old deserted father

A Delhi court has asked a man to pay maintenance to his 83-year-old father, who had pleaded that he has been deserted by his son.

A Delhi court has asked a man to pay maintenance to his 83-year-old father, who had pleaded that he has been deserted by his son.

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Fixing Rs. 4,000 as monthly maintenance on the basis of “cost of modern-day living” for the elderly man — who has four sons — Metropolitan Magistrate Savitri asked the sole respondent son to pay him one-fourth of the sum every month as his share of maintenance.

The court said that the elderly man, who has four sons, cannot pick and choose only one and make him pay the entire amount.“The petitioner is admittedly having four sons but he has moved the present petition only against one son. Since, he is having four sons, it is the liability of all his sons to maintain him. He cannot pick and choose for the purpose of claiming maintenance.

“Accordingly, the liability of the respondent (one son made as party) comes only one-fourth of the total maintenance amount to be ordered by this court,” the court said.

The court asked Shahdara resident Radhe Shyam Goel to pay his share of R1,000 per month to his father Bhopal Dass, who had asked for maintenance only from Radhe Shyam.

“Considering the facts and the cost of living, I am of the view that R4,000 per month would be sufficient for petitioner (Dass) to maintain himself...

I order respondent (Goel) to pay a sum of R1,000 per month as maintenance to the petitioner,” the magistrate said.

Dass had approached the court seeking maintenance from one of his four sons, saying he has no source of livelihood.