In Telangana, cases of elderly parents seeking legal protection against neglect from their children are rising significantly. (AI generated representative)
HYDERABAD: Cases of elderly parents turning to the law for protection against alleged neglect, abuse and financial abandonment by their own children are rising in Telangana, with over 8,500 complaints filed under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (MWPSC) Act since 2021. A total of 8,594 cases were filed before revenue divisional officers (RDOs) across the state between 2021 and Aug 2026 under the Act. Significantly, nearly 3,100 cases were between April 2025 and Aug this year alone, indicating a steep increase in complaints by parents and senior citizens seeking maintenance, protection of property rights and support from their children. Govt data shows that Hyderabad recorded 1,078 cases, followed by Medchal-Malkajgiri with 989 cases and Rangareddy with 912 cases during the five-year period. Together, these three districts account for nearly 35% of all complaints filed in the state. Karimnagar, Nalgonda and Hanumakonda too witnessed substantial numbers, with each reporting between 500 and 600 cases. Officials said annual registrations largely hovered between 1,100 and 1,300 cases until 2025 but have risen significantly over the past year. New parental support law allows up to 15% salary cut for violators They attribute the trend partly to awareness programmes conducted by the govt and partly to the enactment of the Telangana Employees Accountability and Monitoring of Parental Support Act, 2026, which seeks to strengthen financial security for elderly parents. The new law, passed by the assembly in March this year, supplements the provisions of the MWPSC Act, 2007. Failure to do so can result in deduction of up to 15% of salary or 10,000, whichever is lower, with the amount payable to the parents.
Officials attribute it to greater awareness among senior citizens, easier access to grievance redressal mechanisms, and stronger legal safeguards introduced by the state govt. The highest number of cases were reported from Hyderabad and its surrounding urban districts, reflecting changing family dynamics. He said the govt has also introduced an online platform to make the grievance process more accessible to senior citizens.
Officials said six to seven cases have already been registered under the new law and are currently under various stages of adjudication. In some cases, children do not pay rents of their parents’ house stating they do not have sufficient money, no job and expenses of their children,” V Sarveshwar Reddy, director, department of empowerment of persons with disabilities, senior citizens and transgenders, told TOI. Interestingly, even when parents have two or three children, they are often neglected for various reasons,” he said. “To create awareness, the state govt has come up with a website to file the cases online,” he said.
It makes it mandatory for public representatives and employees in the govt and private sectors to support their elderly parents. “In many cases, parents complain that their children do not take care of them and even provide basic needs such as food and health though they own properties. It has become a big task for the authorities to evict children. Officials say disputes over property often lie at the heart of such complaints. others allegedly deny them rental income or financial support despite possessing substantial family assets While some children refuse to vacate houses owned by their parents. In several cases, elderly parents have been forced to approach authorities to regain control over their own properties and secure a dignified living. He cited cases in Miryalguda in Nalgonda district and Warasiguda in city where authorities evicted children from properties owned by senior citizens and restored possession to the parents. “In Miryalguda, we evicted a son from a retired constable’s house, while in Warasiguda, one of the parents was a former South Central Railway officer. The govt has recently constituted a commission to handle major cases and appeals; a move expected to streamline adjudication and strengthen protection for senior citizens.
You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Hyderabad | Silver Rate in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad | Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Petrol Price in Hyderabad | Diesel Price in Hyderabad | CNG Price in Hyderabad | LPG Price in Hyderabad Stay updated with the latest Hyderabad news. Download the TOI App.