AGARTALA, June 8 (TIWN): Altogether six cases under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act- 2007 have been filed before the court during the past one year, said Chief Justice of High Court of Tripura Justice Deepak Gupta.

In the state like Tripura, registration of six such cases in a year seems high percentage in compare to other states like Himachal Pradesh which had registered very few cases, he said while speaking at a seminar titled- Rights of Parents and Senior Citizens with special reference to the Act at Town Hall here today.

However, he said the legal battle against parents and elders might not be the beneficial for all the time. Justice Gupta prescribed the deprived parents and elders to give threat to errant sons to ensure their right. “If the threat fails to budge the errant sons, the deprive parents or elders could knock the door of court under the Act and the court will act as per the provisions of the Act”, he said.

“It’s very sad to have such seminar as well have to have such Act. The Parliamentary had enacted such legislation to safeguard the interest of parents and elders persons”, he said.

Putting finger at the materialistic society, Justice Gupta said, “Enforce the Act to ensure the right of parents or elders might not be right always. Therefore, change is required in our society and it has to come within it”.

Noting that loneliness is the biggest challenge to the elders, he said, “In today’s world, parents and old-age persons often feel loneliness even if they have money. It’s very sad to see cartoon has become more important than talking to dada and nani! The society needs to be changed”.

Referring to his experience, Justice Gupta said, “My father died at the age of 42. My mom had to struggle a lot to raise us. It is very challenging job for a widow to raise her children and of course the society had given her respect”.

At the end, Justice Gupta thanked the government for keeping old age homes in good shape and suggested to set up old-age home in the same premises of children home which had been proven successful in Himachal Pradesh.

Tripura State Legal Services Authority organized the seminar in association with Government Pensioners’ Association. Justice UB Saha, the judge of High Court also spoke on the occasion while SG Chattopadhyay, member secretary of State Legal Services Authority gave welcome address.