Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Dec 31: Human Rights Protection Foundation president Ravindranath Shanbagh demanded justice for 77-year-old Bhoja Shetty, a senior citizen who was evicted from his home by his own family.

Addressing a press conference at Vainkunta Baliga Law College on Tuesday, December 31, Shanbagh asked district administration to intervene and implement the court order through Women and Child Welfare Department in 15 days.

Bhoja Shetty is resident of Mudrady in Karkala taluk. He owned five acres of fertile land, which he got under Land Reforms Act.

An agriculturist, he toiled hard for 35 years to nurture his seven children. Today, all his children are well-settled and have attained good economic status.

As per the wishes of his wife and children, he had written his properties in his children's name in 1995. Once the property was transferred, Bhoja Shetty’s children started neglecting him. He was orally abused and the children stopped giving him money for his monthly maintenance.

With many health issues, Shetty now lives in a small room and has to work to make a living. He complained to Hebri police regarding injustice, but he did not get any positive response.

Later, he approached Human Rights Protection Foundation in October 2018 and narrated his woes. A complaint was lodged with the Senior Citizens Tribunal in Kundapur seeking assistance to get relief. A request was made to direct the children to provide monthly financial relief as agreed by them while taking possession of properties. In the event of the children failing to keep their promise, a request was also made to re-transfer the properties back to Bhoja Shetty.

When notices were served on the defaulting sons of Bhoja Shetty, they called on the conciliation officer appointed by the district administration for settlement and assured to provide monthly maintenance to the aggrieved senior citizen.

In the month of December 2019, the tribunal gave the verdict directing each of the five sons to provide monthly maintenance of Rs 2000 to their father by crediting the same to his savings bank account. The tribunal also ordered the sons to arrange for a rented accommodation for their father.

Though, after the lapse of over a year, Bhoja Shetty heaved a sigh of relief after reading the judgment of the tribunal. He hoped that his worst days would be over on implementation of the verdict.

Now, Bhoja Shetty requests for a room and hopes his children keep up to their words as agreed earlier. “I need money for my daily bread and medicines. I do not have energy to earn anywhere. I do not want my property; I will not carry property with me after my death. My life is under threat and my children will take my life also. I do not need more than this,” he tells media.

“If the district authority does implement the verdict of court, we know what we are supposed to do to get the property. Let deputy commissioner take stern action in order to give justice to the senior citizen. In many cases, senior citizens will get justice in their life time. Justice should not be denied to any innocent people. I will fight till he gets justice,” Shanbagh ensured.