Form panel to check on elderly couple neglected by son, HHRC tells DC

The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has taken serious note of the disturbing condition of a 96-year-old man and his 86-year-old wife who have “allegedly been abandoned and neglected by their son Rajesh Mitra”.

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Mitra is a resident of Ridgewood Estate, DLF City, Phase-IV, and the court took cognisance of the complaint filed by residents and representatives of Ridgewood Estate Condominium Association.

The commission has issued urgent directions to the district administration and health authorities to conduct an immediate medical, psychological and social assessment of the elderly couple.

The complaint alleges that the senior citizens have been left in a state of grave neglect, relying solely on two untrained female attendants and without proper medical supervision. The elderly man is often heard crying out in pain, causing severe emotional trauma not just to his wife but also to other senior residents in the vicinity.

Despite repeated appeals to the son and local authorities, no effective action had been taken, prompting the intervention of the commission.

Chairperson of the HHRC, Justice Lalit Batra, expressed deep concern over the prolonged mental and physical suffering endured by the couple, calling it a blatant violation of Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the fundamental right to live with dignity. He emphasized that such situations are not “private family matters”, but public human rights concerns, especially when society and the state fail in their shared responsibility to protect vulnerable citizens.

Justice Batra highlighted provisions under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, particularly Section 20, which obligates the state to provide adequate healthcare services for senior citizens, including reserved hospital beds, separate queues and subsidised treatment. If intentional abandonment is established, the commission noted, criminal liability under Section 24 of the Act may be invoked against the responsible party.

The commission has directed Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram, to constitute a multi-disciplinary medical and welfare committee comprising Commissioner of Police, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Civil Surgeon and District Social Welfare Officer of Gurugram.

This team is instructed to visit the residence and conduct a comprehensive assessment of the couple’s physical, emotional and social condition. A status report and long-term action plan for their treatment, care or rehabilitation is to be submitted to the commission before the next hearing on July 3.