present petition impugning the order dated 10.12.2015 (hereafter „the
impugned order‟) passed by the Maintenance Tribunal, Central District
constituted under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior
Citizens Act, 2007 (hereafter „the Act‟). By the impugned order, the
Tribunal has, inter alia, directed the petitioners to vacate the respective
portions occupied by them on the third floor of the property bearing
No.3617, Katra Deena Beg, Lal Kuan, Delhi within a period of three weeks
from the date of receipt of the impugned order.
2. The petitioners have assailed the impugned order on the principal
ground that the same is without jurisdiction; according to the petitioners,
the Maintenance Tribunal does not have the jurisdiction to pass an order of
eviction and its jurisdiction is only limited to awarding maintenance to
senior citizens.
The written statement filed by the petitioners before the Maintenance
Tribunal to oppose the complaint filed by respondent no.3 also indicates
that the petitioners had filed FIRs alleging that respondent no.3 had
attempted to outrage the modesty of their wives, this clearly indicates that
the petitioners and respondent no.3 cannot live together and this Court
finds no reason to interfere with the order passed by the Maintenance
Tribunal.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Judgment delivered on: 31.10.2017
W.P.(C) 866/2016 and CM Nos. 23434/2017, 17173/2017
SHADAB KHAIRI AND ANR
V
THE STATE (GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI)
CORAM
HON’BLE MR JUSTICE VIBHU BAKHRU
1. The petitioners- who are the sons of respondent no.3- have filed the
present petition impugning the order dated 10.12.2015 (hereafter „the
impugned order‟) passed by the Maintenance Tribunal, Central District
constituted under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior
Citizens Act, 2007 (hereafter „the Act‟). By the impugned order, the
Tribunal has, inter alia, directed the petitioners to vacate the respective
portions occupied by them on the third floor of the property bearing
No.3617, Katra Deena Beg, Lal Kuan, Delhi within a period of three weeks
from the date of receipt of the impugned order.
2. The petitioners have assailed the impugned order on the principal
ground that the same is without jurisdiction; according to the petitioners,
the Maintenance Tribunal does not have the jurisdiction to pass an order of
eviction and its jurisdiction is only limited to awarding maintenance to
senior citizens.
3. Mohammud Aftab Khairi (respondent no.3) is stated to be aged
about 68 years old (a senior citizen). He claims to be the owner and
resident of the properties bearing Nos.3616-3617, Katra Deena Beg, Lal
Kuan, Delhi-110006. The said properties are contiguous. Respondent no.3
has three sons, namely, Shahab Khairi, Shadab Khairi (petitioner no.1) and
Shahnawaz Khairi (petitioner no.2). He claims that he runs the business of
printing in the name of „Khairi Printing Press‟ on the ground floor of the
properties in question and he and his family occupy the first floor of the
properties. The second and third floor is occupied by his three sons.
4. Respondent no.3 filed a complaint before the Maintenance Tribunal,
inter alia, alleging that he had spent a considerable amount on renovating
the residential premises and had provided separate residential
accommodation to his three sons on the second and the third floors. He
claimed that his sons had agreed to pay a monthly sum of ₹15,000/- for his
maintenance and additional ₹5,000/- per month to his wife (their mother)
for day-to-day requirements. Respondent No.3 complained that despite a
verbal agreement, his three sons (who were arrayed as respondents before
the Maintenance Tribunal) had failed to live up to their commitment; they
had paid the agreed amount to their mother for the month of March 2012
but had, thereafter, failed to provide any further assistance. The petitioners
(respondents therein) had filed a statement contesting the complaint before
the Tribunal and had, inter alia, alleged that the properties in question were
ancestral properties and therefore, had the right to reside in it as co-owners.
5. The Maintenance Tribunal examined the complaint and passed the
impugned order directing as under:
“ 1 Respondent No.1 shall continue to stay in
property No. 3617 on the (second floor) and
shall sincerely strive to support the complainant
in his work and other responsibilities towards the
family of the complainant.
2 Respondent No. l shall look after and provide all
the medical care to the complainant‟s wife or
any other member of the family, in time of need.
3 Respondent No. l shall also pay a sum of
Rs.5000/- per month to the complainant.
4 Respondent No.2&3 shall peacefully vacate the
respective portions on third floor of the property
bearing No.3617 Katra Deena Beg, Lal Kuan,
Delhi, occupied by them within 3 weeks from
the date of receiving of this order and make their
own arrangements to shift within specified time.
5 Respondent No. 2&3 are further directed that
they shall refrain from indulging in any
argument, making comments, threatening or
causing any harm to the complainants in
particular and all the other members of the
family including Respondent No. 1.
6 That SHO PS Hauz Qazi is directed to depute
beat staff for regular visits to ensure that life and
property of the senior citizen parent is safe and
secure. The SHO is further directed to ensure
implementation of the above said direction in
true letter and spirit and put the complainant in
possession of the property. Necessary
compliance report be sent to the tribunal.”
6. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners contended that the
order passed by the Maintenance Tribunal directing that the petitioners be
evicted from the property in question is without jurisdiction.
7. The aforesaid contention is unmerited. This issue is squarely covered
by a decision of this Court in Sunny Paul & Anr. v. State NCT of Delhi &
Ors.:(W.P. (C) No. 10463/2015) 2017 SCC Online Del 7451, wherein this
Court had concluded as under:
“73. Keeping in view the aforesaid conclusions, this
Court is of the view that the Act, 2007, amongst other
remedies, provides for eviction of adult children in
cases of parental abuse–like in the present case.
Accordingly, the present writ petition and application
are dismissed and the concerned SDM and SHO,
Police Station Civil Lines, are directed to forthwith
comply with the impugned order dated 1st October,
2015 passed by the Maintenance Tribunal, Central
District, Delhi.”
8. It is also relevant to mention that the aforesaid decision had been
rendered in the petition challenging an order dated 01.10.2015 passed by
the Maintenance Tribunal (Central District, Delhi) under the Act. This
Court had noticed in its decision that Section 22 (2) of the Act required the
State Government to provide a comprehensive action plan for protecting
the life and property of senior citizens. However, as on the date when the
said petition (W.P. (C) No.10463/2015) was filed, the Government of NCT
of Delhi had not framed any rules providing for eviction of unauthorized
occupants and had not prepared a comprehensive action plan as required
under Section 22 (2) of the Act. However, thereafter, the Government of
NCT has framed the Delhi Maintenance and Welfare of Senior Citizens
(Amendment) Rules 2016, which expressly empower the Deputy
Commissioner / District Magistrate to pass eviction orders from properties
belonging to Senior Citizens.
9. The written statement filed by the petitioners before the Maintenance
Tribunal to oppose the complaint filed by respondent no.3 also indicates
that the petitioners had filed FIRs alleging that respondent no.3 had
attempted to outrage the modesty of their wives, this clearly indicates that
the petitioners and respondent no.3 cannot live together and this Court
finds no reason to interfere with the order passed by the Maintenance
Tribunal.
10. The petition is accordingly dismissed. All applications stands
disposed of.
VIBHU BAKHRU, J
OCTOBER 31, 2017
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