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2023 Supreme(P&H) 3433

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
MANOJ BAJAJ, J.
Gurdeep Kaur – Petitioner
Versus
State of Punjab & Ors. – Respondents
CWP-18328 of 2021
Decided On : 27-04-2023

Advocates Appeared:
Mr. Dhiraj Chawla, Advocate; For the Petitioner
For the Respondents: Ms. Jasleen Kaur Sidhu, DAG, Punjab.
None for Respondent No.3.

Headnote:(A) Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 - Sections 23 - Writ petition for cancellation of transfer deed - The appellate authority reversed the SDM's order cancelling the transfer deed in favor of the petitioner, citing the previous order granting maintenance and the legal inapplicability of the act to transfers prior to its commencement. (Paras 2, 6)

(B) Jurisdiction and Finality - Previous decisions on maintenance claim attained finality and were operative; hence subsequent cancellation of the transfer deed lacked justification for interference. (Paras 5, 6)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner informally adopted her grandson and transferred property to him; later sought cancellation of the transfer due to neglect and outstanding maintenance obligations.

Findings of Court:
The previous orders regarding maintenance were upheld, confirming the transfer deed's validity, as it predated the Act's introduction.

Issues: Whether the transfer deed could be cancelled under the 2007 Act regarding its applicability to past transfers and the enforceability of maintenance claims.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the legal precedent that the transfer deed executed before the Act's introduction cannot be altered under its provisions, affirming the appellate authority’s reversal.

Result: Writ petition dismissed.

Table of Content
1. petitioner seeks writ under article 226. (Para 1)
2. arguments regarding the transfer deed and maintenance. (Para 2)
3. mediation attempts failed; respondent's absence noted. (Para 3 , 4)
4. prior decisions on transfer deed and maintenance are operative. (Para 5 , 6)
5. writ petition dismissed. (Para 7)

JUDGMENT

Manoj Bajaj, J.

Petitioner has approached this Court under Article 226 Constitution of India for issuance of a writ in the nature of Certiorari setting aside the impugned order dated 19.08.2021 (Annexure P-5) passed by the appellate authority under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, whereby the order dated 12.01.2021 (Annexure P-4) passed by SDM, Ferozepur, cancelling the transfer deed dated 11.11.2004, (Annexure P-2) passed in favour of petitioner, was set aside. Further prayer is for issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the respondent No.2 to ensure the protection of the petitioner and restrain the respondent No.3 from entering the land of the petitioner.

2. Learned counsel submits that petitioner-Gurdeep Kaur has only five daughters, therefore, she informally adopted one of her grandsons, namely Pushpinder Singh-respondent No.3 as her son and transferred her immovable property in his favour vide transfer deed dated 11.11.2004 (Annexure P-2). He submits that the grandson-respondent No.3 was residing with the petitioner, but after his marriage in the year 2005, he started neglecting the senior citizen and it compelled the petitioner to invoke the provisions of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 for cancellation of transfer deed, and vide order dated 04.07.2017 (Annexure P-3) passed by Sub Divisional Magistrate, Ferozepur, maintenance of Rs.10,000/- per month was awarded in favour of the petitioner. He further submits that even this amount of maintenance was not paid by the respondent No.3, therefore, the petitioner being a helpless lady again filed an application under section 23 of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, wherein the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Ferozepur vide order dated 12.01.2021 (Annexure P-4) accepted the application and cancelled the transfer deed bearing No. 5217 dated 11.11.2004, but the appellate tribunal vide impugned order dated 19.08.2021 (Annexure P-5) reversed the said decision and dismissed the petitioner's application. Learned counsel has argued that the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 was enacted to protect the interest of the senior citizen, but despite the first order dated 04.07.2017, no maintenance was paid to the petitioner, therefore, the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Ferozepur had rightly passed the order dated 12.01.2021 (Annexure P-4) cancelling the transfer deed. According to him, the approach adopted by the appellate tribunal in reversing the said decision is bad in law and warrants interference.

3. On 15.09.2021, notice of motion was issued in this writ petition and respondent No.3 appeared through his counsel on 24.11.2021. Thereafter, the parties were sent before the Mediation and Conciliation Centre of this Court to explore the possibility of settlement, however, the said attempt failed, and the case has been sent back to the High Court.

4. Today none has appeared on behalf of respondent No.3 and similar was the position on the last date of hearing.

5. After hearing the learned counsel and considering the material on record, this Court finds that the petitioner had previously filed a similar application seeking cancellation of the transfer deed on 11.11.2004, (Annexure P-2), but the Court of Sub Divisional Magistrate, Ferozepur vide order dated 04.07.2017 (Annexure P-3) declined the cancellation of instrument, and alternatively awarded monthly maintenance of Rs.10,000/- in favour of the senior citizen, and the same was to be deposited in her account.

6. During the course of hearing, it has not been disputed by the learned counsel

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