SANJAY KISHAN KAUL, J.

The changing norms of a society raise various problems. Our society, possibly more in the urban areas, is today faced with the ground reality of a unitary family, rather than a joint family where different generations live together. There are various causes for this easier movement for employment, requirement of greater privacy of the younger generation, the ability and the need to lead their lives etc. Simultaneously, the kind of welfare measures and support system required for the parents and aged persons have not kept pace with it as may be in the western countries. There is absence of social security system to take care of the older generation. And this is coupled with longevity as a consequence of better medical assistance.

2. One of the steps taken by the Legislature in support of the parents and senior citizens is the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 (hereinafter referred to as the said Act). However, in the urgent need for the said enactment, we do feel that possibly the fine tuning of certain provisions has escaped attention as is being elucidated by us hereinafter.

3. The very statement of objects and reaso