LR-5 How to protect old parents who are being beaten up by their son and who are living 1000 miles away from us?
Somedays ago I received an email from a person I knew on social media.
He was once a strong and rich man. Now he and his wife had became very old and they were in control of son and daughter in law.
They were often beaten up and caged in a room. Since he had access to social media, he emailed me to ask if there is anything legally he can do against his son and daughter in law.
I thought it over and then replied him that I see no way legal help can come to him. My reasons were:
1) There are laws to protect old parents. But someone has to go to the court and has to make application to Judge. Here, the man was very old. No money to go to Lawyer. Perhaps not even freedom to come out from house.
2) Suppose, I forward his letter to his nearby High Court CJ or a District Court Judge or to a District Magistrate then? Then perhaps some policeman will knock at his door and will take his statement, will take statement of Son.. something may happen. They may feel safe and protected temporarily... But after one month...., authorities will forget him..... Now they will be once again at mercy of their son and daughter in law..... This time the son will not only cage them in a room but he will also take away mobile phone from him to ensure that he cannot send any email and cannot contact anyone on social media for help. The parents will be now in a worse position.
3) I saw no way to help them. I suggested them to seek help of some relatives or neighbours. But I had no hopes.
Even neighbours and relatives may not be inclined to incur animosity with strong headed son.
This is a common story. When parents have property in their name, when they get very old, they face such tragedies.
There has to be some helpline number to which even a neighbour can inform authorities anonymously.
Merely passing laws for old age people is not enough. Some helpline need to be set up.
Haresh Raichura-7/9/2016
