One Tight Slap For Children Who Orphan Their Aging Parents

Alamuru (East Godavari): In a wake up call to the society that neglects senior citizens, a local court in the town directed the children of an aging father to pay him maintenance allowance every month.

The orders were issued by Alamuru Junior Civil Judge M Subba Rao, on January 25, after P Nagabhushanam (72) lodged a complaint against his sons. The complainant, Nagabhushanam is a priest at a local temple and is survived by four sons while his wife Satyavathi died about seven years ago. His eldest son, Satyanarayana Murthy is also a priest and is said to be well-settled in Mandapeta town. The second son, Subramanya Sharma spread canards in the town that his father has infectious skin disease and prevented his entry into the temple for religious duties. Besides taking over the priesthood at the temple where his father worked, he also took over the house given by the state government leaving the old man without house and job. The fourth son, Sri Prakash is employed as a teacher in Rajanagaram.

The third son Maheshwar Rao, stood by his father at all times. An electrician by profession, he took care of his father's needs. However, the apathy of his three other children sent Nagabhushanam into depression on several occasions. He is said to have attempted suicide on three occasions and each time it was Maheswar Rao who rescued him, Alamuru residents who knew the family said. "Nagabhushanam was aware of the meagre salary that his third son earned and felt he was burdening him. It was in this regard that he decided to approach the court and filed a maintenance case on June 30, 2016," they said.

After several arguments by the senior priest, his sons and presentations by village elders, Judge Subba Rao was convinced of the apathy of the siblings towards their father. The Judge directed the fourth son to pay Rs 4,000 per month and the remaining sons at Rs 1,500 each per month allowance to their father.