Cuttack: The Orissa high court has directed police authorities in Rourkela to act in accordance with the law and ensure an elderly couple’s protection, allegedly facing harassment by their son and daughter-in-law.While hearing a petition filed by a 62-year-old man and his wife (56), Justice Savitri Ratho, in her Feb 6 judgment, observed that when a complaint discloses a cognizable offence, it is the duty of the police to register a case and conduct an investigation, rather than insist on submission of a fresh complaint.
Accordingly, Justice Ratho directed the Rourkela SP and the inspector in-charge (IIC) of Plantsite police station in Sundargarh ‘to register the couple’s complaint and provide them protection’.The judge further said, ‘The authorities may also assist the petitioners in initiating eviction proceedings under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, if the dispute remains unresolved.”The couple had approached the court seeking appropriate direction to the police authorities concerned. According to the petition, the couple’s son and daughter-in-law are residing in a house built on the husband’s self-acquired property and are allegedly causing disturbances and harassing them instead of taking care of them.The counsel for the petitioners submitted, “It is the duty of the police to ensure the well-being and welfare of the petitioners (as the husband is a senior citizen) as their son and daughter-in-law are causing disturbances in their residence.”The counsel also told the court that the complaint, dated Sept 10, 2025, had been sent by speed post to the IIC of Plantsite police station on Nov 09, 2025, but no effective action followed.The court referred to the provisions of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, and the Orissa Maintenance of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules, 2009, which mandate protection and welfare of senior citizens. Citing Section 4(2) of the Act, the court noted that children residing with parents who are senior citizens are obligated to ensure that they are properly looked after and allowed to lead a normal life.The court said that it is the responsibility of the SP to ensure the well-being of senior citizens within his jurisdiction.
