Pay 14L/year to woman to enjoy coffee estate gifted by her: Karnataka HC

BENGALURU: Karnataka HC recently directed an 85-year-old woman's son and granddaughter to pay Rs 7 lakh each for her annual maintenance in order to enjoy the 22-acre coffee estate in Kodagu district she had gifted them.

Petitioner Apparanda Shanthi Bopanna had 48-acre coffee estate at Siddapura village, Virajpet taluk. After her eldest son AB Biddappa filed a suit, 24-acre was decreed in his favour. Later, her third son AB Ganapathy and granddaughter Pooja (daughter of the eldest son) persuaded her to execute a gift deed in respect of 22-acre, saying they would deposit Rs 7 lakh each per year in her bank account. From 2016 to 2019, the amount was paid.

When the payments stopped, she initiated proceedings under Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, seeking cancellation of the gift deed. The assistant commissioner on Sept 15, 2021, set aside the gift deed. The son and granddaughter appealed against this and the DC, on March 23, 2022, restored it.

Challenging the same, the woman moved HC. Justice M Nagaprasanna directed the son and granddaughter to take care of the woman and pay annual maintenance amount for her lifetime.