Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 19 Jul: District Magistrate Savin Bansal on Saturday ordered annulment of a gift deed through which an elderly couple’s son had transferred a 3,080 sq ft property into his own name and subsequently evicted his parents from their residence. Exercising special powers under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, the DM’s court has delivered justice to the aggrieved couple during the very first hearing. Acting on the DM’s directive, the registry office complied without delay, executing the order within merely three days.
The matter concerned Paramjit Singh and his wife Amarjeet Kaur, who had gifted their sizeable property, comprising two large halls, to their son Gurvinder Singh, under a deed that contained specific and binding conditions. These included the provision of regular maintenance for the elderly couple, continued residence at the property, and regular interaction with their grandchildren. However, soon after the execution of the deed, Gurvinder Singh began to flout these stipulations. He not only failed to care for his parents but also harassed them and denied them access to their grandchildren. Ultimately, he expelled them from their own home.
Having sought redressal through the tehsil office, local police station, and the subordinate courts without any satisfactory outcome, the distressed couple turned to the District Magistrate’s court for relief. Their complaint was duly registered, and in the very first hearing, Savin Bansal took serious note of the matter. Notices were served to the opposite party, and information about the case was also circulated via a public press release. Despite receiving repeated opportunities to present his defence, Gurvinder Singh failed to appear or file any objections.
Upon thorough evaluation of the circumstances and the egregious violation of the gift deed’s conditions, the DM passed a well-reasoned and legally sound order, thereby cancelling the deed in its entirety. The full ownership of the 3,080 sq ft property was restored to Paramjit Singh and Amarjeet Kaur. The judgement, made under the special powers vested in the DM by statute, reinforced the principle that disregard for legal obligations towards elderly parents will not be tolerated.
The elderly couple, visibly moved by the judgement, were seen weeping with relief and gratitude within the courtroom. The moment symbolised not only the restoration of their home, but also the affirmation of their dignity and rights under the law.
District Magistrate Bansal has consistently demonstrated both firmness and empathy in matters concerning senior citizens, women, children, and other vulnerable sections of society. The Dehradun district administration reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to act swiftly and judiciously in such cases. In this instance, the prompt resolution highlights the administration’s dedication to social justice and legal accountability.
