An 86-year-old man in Wayanad, Kerala, has got his house and land back after a Maintenance Tribunal for Senior Citizens ruled that the relatives who took over the property had not cared for him as promised. Onmanorama reported the order on 4 November 2026.
What happened
Thenothummal Gopalan Nambiar and his late wife had no children. According to the report, their 1.28-acre property and house at Paliyana in Wayanad district were transferred to a niece of his wife and her husband, on the understanding that the couple would be looked after. The report says the promised care never came. Mr Nambiar had to leave the house and later stayed at his sister’s home.
A local pensioners’ association took up his case and petitioned the tribunal on his behalf. After hearings before the Mananthavady Revenue Divisional Magistrate, tribunal chairman Athul Sagar ruled in his favour. The tribunal directed the Vellamunda Sub-Registrar to cancel all four title deeds used to transfer the land and house.
Key facts
- Petitioner: an 86-year-old man with no children
- Property: 1.28 acres and a house at Paliyana, Wayanad district
- Order: all four title deeds cancelled; property returned to him
- Help: a local pensioners’ association filed the petition
- Law: Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007
What the law says
Section 23 of the 2007 Act covers property that a senior citizen gives away on the condition that the receiver will provide basic amenities and physical needs. If the receiver fails to do this, the transfer is treated as made by fraud, coercion or undue influence, and the tribunal can declare it void. The Act also says maintenance applications should be decided within 90 days of notice, and it sets a maximum maintenance amount of ₹10,000 a month.
The Supreme Court has also said that senior citizens’ tribunals can order the eviction of children from their parents’ property.
What this means for older Indians and families
Kerala is one of India’s oldest states. People aged 60 and above make up 20.7% of its population, against a national average of 12.9%, according to Business Standard. Across India, the 60-plus population is projected to rise from 100 million in 2011 to 230 million by 2036.
This case shows that the 2007 Act can protect older people who hand over property in return for care and then do not get it. Older people in this situation can approach the Maintenance Tribunal for their area. As in this case, pensioners’ and senior citizens’ associations can help them file a petition.
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Sources: Onmanorama, 4 November 2026; Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 (summary); LiveLaw; Business Standard, 1 November 2026.
