NEW DELHI — A son, described as a 'financially sound businessman,' has been directed by the Supreme Court to vacate properties he inherited from his elderly parents, in a ruling that reminds all citizens that the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act of 2007 still exists and is, in fact, enforceable.

The court’s decision follows a recurring pattern where children receive property, often through gift deeds, and subsequently abandon their parents. In one notable case, a son withdrew Rs 1.6 crore from his mother's joint account without consent, while in another, a mother executed a gift deed in 2019, only for her son to allegedly attack his parents later, leading to a legal battle in 2020.

Legal experts note that despite the 2007 Act's intention to provide 'speedy, simple and inexpensive remedies,' parents frequently endure protracted legal battles. A 2022 Madhya Pradesh High Court ruling, which stated a gift deed couldn't be invalidated without an explicit maintenance condition, was subsequently overturned by the Supreme Court, emphasizing a 'liberal interpretation' of the law, much to the surprise of some legal practitioners.

An official familiar with the court's docket stated, 'The sheer volume of these cases reaching the highest court really underscores a systemic failure of familial duty.' He then clarified that the court would continue to interpret the law and remind adult children of their obligations, presumably until such time as the concept of familial duty becomes self-executing.