Udupi: Harassed by son, 86-year-old Savithri fights for justice

Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (EP)
With Inputs from Media Release

Udupi, Feb 13: This is not a battle one would ever imagine fighting at the twilight of one's life.

But Savithri Amma, at the ripe old age of 86, has prepared herself for a court battle against her son for being allegedly harassed for property.

Savithri Amma has complained against her son at the Kundapur court with the help of Udupi human rights forum. She has stated that her son Keshava Bhat has illegally taken away her property.

She has alleged her fifth son Keshava Bhat of harassing her. It is said that he was giving her no food and she was not even allowed to meet her other children.

Savithri's husband Gururaj Bhat passed away over 14 years ago. She had inherited 50 cents of land, out of which she distributed 35 cents among her children (6 sons and 2 daughters) equally and was dwelling with her youngest son Krishna Bhat in her old house on the remaining 15-cent land.

Savithri Amma was taking care of her requirements herself and was not dependant on anybody. But about two years back her son Krishna Bhat had to go to Mumbai on employment and at that time her fifth son Keshava Bhat entered the house on the pretext of performing daily puja of the family deity. Within a few days he took over the management of Savithri Amma’s house to his control, states the complaint.

Within a few months Savithri Amma found that she was not being provided food. Many a time she had to go to Sri Krishna Temple for food. She also stopped taking food in the night. To top it all, she was confined in the house as her son did not allow her other children/relatives to visit her.

In June 2013, she found that electricity bill was in the name of Keshava Bhat instead of the late Gururaj Bhat. She was shocked to learn that her house had been transferred to Keshava Bhat.

When she realised the foul play she slipped out of the house and approached her elder sister Lakshmama and with her help lodged a police complaint. The policy department suggested to take up the matter to the civil court.

Finally Savithri Amma approached Human Rights Foundation Udupi and the Foundation has lodged a complaint with the assistant commissioner of Kundapur to look into the matter.
 
The union government had passed legislation in 2007 regarding the maintenance and well being of senior citizens. Under the legislation, if the person who is liable for their maintenance deserts them, they can be questioned in the court and fined Rs 5,000 and imprisoned up to three months.  Ravindra Shanbhag of Human Rights Forum had spoken about it in a news conference held at Vaikunta Baliga University of law.

Savithri Amma has pleaded that she may be allowed to die in her house and desire to be allowed visits from her other children.

Watch Video