Senior citizen bill: Kerala law proposes 3-year jail for mental harassment

Thiruvananthapuram: A new law being brought out by the Keralam government for protection and welfare of elderly persons warrants up to three-year imprisonment for family members even for mental harassment or forcefully abandoning elderly persons. The bill, which will be introduced in the assembly on Tuesday, also provides for ensuring that every house has at least one senior citizen friendly room and making all public places senior citizen friendly. .Keralam's elderly care initiatives aim to c

Thiruvananthapuram: A new law being brought out by the Keralam government for protection and welfare of elderly persons warrants up to three-year imprisonment for family members even for mental harassment or forcefully abandoning elderly persons.

The bill, which will be introduced in the assembly on Tuesday, also provides for ensuring that every house has at least one senior citizen friendly room and making all public places senior citizen friendly.

.Keralam's elderly care initiatives aim to create jobs for younger generations. Titled 'Keralam Senior Citizens (Care and Protection) Bill 2026', the proposed law aims at strictly regulating care homes for elderly persons by prescribing minimum standards and ensuring socio-cultural and leisure activities for elderly persons.

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan had recently termed the upcoming law as a revolutionary one that could set a model for the country. The bill was cleared by the cabinet last week.

According to the bill, any acts that cause even mental harassment to senior citizens too would come under the definition of 'cruelty' and thereby warrant up to three year sentences and fine of Rs 50,000 to family members for offences like harassing senior citizens to leave home or abandoning them at care home. The family members of an elderly person will include children, adopted children, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and grandchildren. In the absence of these, siblings will be considered as an elderly person's family member.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/keralam/three-year-jail-term-for-family-members-for-mental-harassment-keralams-new-law-for-senior-citizens-4179992

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