Pune Court Takes Strong Stand On Elder Abuse; Orders Son And Daughter-in-Law To Pay ₹2 Lakh Each and Leave Mother’s Home
Pune Court Takes Strong Stand On Elder Abuse; Orders Son And Daughter-in-Law To Pay ₹2 Lakh Each and Leave Mother’s Home
Pune, November 25, 2025: In a strong and precedent-setting judgment, a Pune court has ordered a man and his wife to pay ₹2 lakh each to his 80-year-old mother after finding them guilty of harassing, humiliating and neglecting her inside her own home.
Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Amol Shinde not only granted the senior citizen monetary relief but also directed the couple to vacate the house, affirming that the property rightfully belongs to her and she is entitled to live there peacefully without fear.
The case uncovered a disturbing pattern of elder abuse within the family. According to the woman’s complaint, she had welcomed her son, Raju, and daughter-in-law, Nikita (names changed), into her home after both remarried following their respective divorces. What began as a seemingly stable household soon deteriorated as the daughter-in-law’s behaviour allegedly changed drastically.
Despite the woman’s advanced age and health issues—including arthritis, bone weakness and other age-related ailments—she was reportedly forced to manage all household chores alone. The complaint states she was insulted, belittled and mentally harassed regularly. It further alleges that she was often denied proper food and, at times, left hungry as a means of punishment.
The situation worsened when the daughter-in-law repeatedly told the elderly woman to leave the house, falsely claiming ownership. The continuous humiliation and neglect eventually drove the woman to temporarily seek shelter at her daughter’s home. Unable to endure the abuse any longer, she approached the police and later filed a case through advocate Smita Deshmukh under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.
During the proceedings, the woman expressed her deep fear of being displaced from the home she had lived in for decades. She told the court she wished to spend her final years peacefully and hoped to “take her last breath in her own house.” The court took serious note of her plea, emphasising that no parent should be treated as a burden—especially in old age, when compassion and support are crucial.
Magistrate Shinde issued firm directives to safeguard the woman’s right to residence and prevent further harassment.
Advocate Deshmukh later said the ruling highlights a growing but often hidden reality of elder abuse within families. She noted that many senior citizens suffer in silence due to dependence on their abusers or fear of social stigma. This judgment, she added, not only restores her client’s dignity but also sends a strong message encouraging other victims to seek help.
