Concept of family eroding, country on brink of 'one person, one family,' laments Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over the erosion of family values, with children and parents litigating in court over maintenance and ownership of property, the Supreme Court on Thursday said that the country was on the brink of following a 'one person, one family' concept. It also held that parents could be allowed to evict children from their self-acquired property only if it was necessary to ensure their (parents) protection.

"In India, we believe in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam i.e. the earth, as a whole, is one family. However, today we are not even able to retain unity in the immediate family... The very concept of 'family' is being eroded and we are on the brink of 'one person, one family'," a bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and S N Bhatti said while adjudicating a property dispute between a man and his parents who had sought his eviction from their house.
The court said Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act does not talk about eviction but it could be done if it was necessary and expedient to ensure protection of senior citizens. The court set aside an order of an appellate tribunal under the Act which had directed eviction of a man from the premises of his parent's house as sought by them. SC noted that the man was taking care of his parents and was providing them maintenance and there was no need to remove him from the house.
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