Lucknow:The Uttar Pradesh government has taken a major step to strengthen the rights and protection of senior citizens. Under the approved amendments, elderly parents who face neglect, lack of financial support or abuse from their children or other dependent relatives will be able to seek their eviction from their *self-acquired property*.

The state cabinet has approved amendments to the *Uttar Pradesh Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules, 2014*. Additional provisions have been added to Rule 22 to create a clearer and more time-bound mechanism for protecting elderly people from family-related abuse and neglect.

The move is aimed at ensuring that senior citizens can live with dignity and have an accessible legal mechanism when their own children or dependent relatives fail to support them or subject them to mistreatment.

 Action Against Children Who Fail to Maintain Parents

Under the new provisions, if the children or other dependent relatives of a senior citizen fail to provide maintenance or subject the elderly person to any form of abuse, the senior citizen can approach the appropriate authority seeking their eviction from the senior citizen's self-acquired property.

The provision is intended to strengthen the property and welfare rights of elderly parents. It also seeks to ensure that senior citizens are not left without protection when they face neglect or mistreatment within their own families.

 Complaints Can Be Filed Before District-Level Tribunal

Senior citizens facing such problems will be able to approach the *district-level maintenance tribunal* with their complaints.

The tribunal will examine the circumstances of the case and will have the authority to issue an eviction order where the conditions prescribed under the rules are met.

A time limit has also been introduced for handling complaints. The hearing process is expected to be completed within *30 days*, reducing the possibility of elderly citizens having to wait for a long period to seek relief.

 Institutions Can File Applications on Behalf of Elderly People

The government has also taken into account the difficulties faced by elderly people who may not be physically capable of visiting government offices or filing applications themselves.

If a senior citizen is unable to submit an application personally, an institution can file the application on their behalf. This provision could help elderly people who live alone, have limited mobility or require assistance in accessing administrative procedures.

 Police Assistance for Enforcement

The new mechanism also provides for enforcement of eviction orders.

If a person does not comply with an eviction order within *30 days*, the tribunal can take further action with police assistance. The property can then be taken into possession and handed over to the senior citizen in accordance with the order.

The police authorities concerned will also be required to assist in implementing the eviction order.

This provision is intended to ensure that orders issued by the tribunal do not remain limited to paperwork and can be effectively implemented when necessary.

 Monthly Reports to Be Submitted to the Government

The district administration will also have a role in monitoring such cases. District-level authorities will maintain information about complaints and proceedings and submit regular reports to the government.

District magistrates will be required to send the monthly report concerning such cases to the government by the *7th day of the following month*.

The reporting mechanism is expected to help the government monitor the number of complaints, hearings and orders issued under the new provisions.

 Provision for Appeal

The amended framework also provides a mechanism for appeal against tribunal orders.

A senior citizen who is dissatisfied with an order can approach the *appellate tribunal headed by the district magistrate*. This provides an additional opportunity for the matter to be reviewed under the prescribed legal process.

 Why Were the Rules Amended?

The central law concerning the maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens has been applicable in Uttar Pradesh since 2012. The state rules were subsequently issued in 2014.

The state's former Law Commission had recommended changes to the rules in 2020. The commission had suggested that additional provisions were needed to make the existing rules more effective in achieving the objectives of the central legislation and protecting senior citizens.

Based on those recommendations, additional provisions were proposed under Rule 22. The state cabinet has now approved the amendments.

 Toll-Free Number Likely to Be Issued

Finance Minister Suresh Khanna said that the government is working to make the process easier and more time-bound for senior citizens.

The government is also expected to introduce a *toll-free number* to help elderly people who are unable to personally visit the concerned office to submit complaints.

The proposed facility is intended to provide information and assistance to senior citizens regarding the complaint process and available support.

 Focus on Dignity and Protection of Senior Citizens

The central objective of the decision is to strengthen protection for elderly parents facing neglect or abuse within their families. The amended framework lays down provisions relating to complaints, hearings, eviction orders and enforcement.

However, eviction from property will be subject to the prescribed rules and the proceedings before the competent tribunal. A complaint alone would not automatically result in eviction; the matter would have to go through the required legal and administrative process.

The decision is expected to provide an additional legal safeguard for senior citizens who depend on their children or other relatives and face neglect, lack of maintenance or mistreatment.