Coming to the aid of an elderly couple, whose house has been allegedly locked by their estranged daughter-in-law, the Madras High Court has directed police to give protection to them for entering their property.
Justice M R Ramesh passed the order observing that as per the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act and Rules it was the duty of the government to ensure that the life and property of the elderly people were protected and that they were able to lead a secured life.
In his recent order, the Judge held as illegal and unwarranted the conduct of the couple's daughter-in-law in locking the premises thereby depriving the petitioner from entering his own property.
"Hence I am of the view that the petitioner's life and property is to be protected by respondent police," he said.
According to petitioner T Vinayagam of Maanampathi village in Kancheepuram district, a matrimonial dispute exists between their son and the daughter-in-law and a divorce petition was pending before a court.
When the petitioner and his wife had gone to their daughter's house, their daughter-in-law broke open the lock of their house and put another lock.
The petitioner submitted that he had sent a written complaint through registered post to higher officials on August 9, but no action had been taken so far.
He moved the court seeking a direction to the police to give protection to enter his own house.
Allowing the plea, the Judge said the petitioner was granted liberty to approach the jurisdictional police seeking for protection for the purpose of entering into his house by break opening the lock.
On receipt of such a representation, the jurisdictional police shall extend the necessary protection to enable the petitioner enter his house, he said.
He also directed the police to consider such representation after providing due opportunity to the petitioner's daughter-in law by taking into objections raised by her if any.
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