Udupi: Harassed by son, 86-year-old Savithri fights for justice


Udupi: Harassed by son, 86-year-old Savithri fights for justice

Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (EP)
With Inputs from Media Release

Udupi, Feb 13: This is not a battle one would ever imagine fighting at the twilight of one's life.

But Savithri Amma, at the ripe old age of 86, has prepared herself for a court battle against her son for being allegedly harassed for property.

Savithri Amma has complained against her son at the Kundapur court with the help of Udupi human rights forum. She has stated that her son Keshava Bhat has illegally taken away her property.

She has alleged her fifth son Keshava Bhat of harassing her. It is said that he was giving her no food and she was not even allowed to meet her other children.

Savithri's husband Gururaj Bhat passed away over 14 years ago. She had inherited 50 cents of land, out of which she distributed 35 cents among her children (6 sons and 2 daughters) equally and was dwelling with her youngest son Krishna Bhat in her old house on the remaining 15-cent land.

Savithri Amma was taking care of her requirements herself and was not dependant on anybody. But about two years back her son Krishna Bhat had to go to Mumbai on employment and at that time her fifth son Keshava Bhat entered the house on the pretext of performing daily puja of the family deity. Within a few days he took over the management of Savithri Amma’s house to his control, states the complaint.

Within a few months Savithri Amma found that she was not being provided food. Many a time she had to go to Sri Krishna Temple for food. She also stopped taking food in the night. To top it all, she was confined in the house as her son did not allow her other children/relatives to visit her.

In June 2013, she found that electricity bill was in the name of Keshava Bhat instead of the late Gururaj Bhat. She was shocked to learn that her house had been transferred to Keshava Bhat.

When she realised the foul play she slipped out of the house and approached her elder sister Lakshmama and with her help lodged a police complaint. The policy department suggested to take up the matter to the civil court.

Finally Savithri Amma approached Human Rights Foundation Udupi and the Foundation has lodged a complaint with the assistant commissioner of Kundapur to look into the matter.
 
The union government had passed legislation in 2007 regarding the maintenance and well being of senior citizens. Under the legislation, if the person who is liable for their maintenance deserts them, they can be questioned in the court and fined Rs 5,000 and imprisoned up to three months.  Ravindra Shanbhag of Human Rights Forum had spoken about it in a news conference held at Vaikunta Baliga University of law.

Savithri Amma has pleaded that she may be allowed to die in her house and desire to be allowed visits from her other children.

 

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  • AAP, MANGALORE

    Sun, Feb 16 2014

    GREAT WORK DAIJIWORLD... THIS IS A NEWS U SHOULD PUBLISH... SHAME ON PEOPLE THOSE WHO DON'T TAKE CARE OF THEIR PARENTS

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dr Kiran Acharya, Manipal

    Sat, Feb 15 2014

    Publicity seeking NGO's, failed legal options, bring these kind of episodes in the open for their convenience.
    Other children of the lady in question had mortgaged the property. Could not repay the loan. When the property was due for auction, Keshava Bhat, bought the property after repaying the loan.
    Why NGO's do not look into both sides of a story? If they are just after publicity, for the sake of some human rights award, their motives in all other cases too would be doubted!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • S S Shetty, Mangalore/ Dubai

    Sat, Feb 15 2014

    Keshava bunt whether your fight for 15 cents land is worth ? Do you become poor by providing food to you mother ? Whether you have forgotten when you have arrived to this world she was your world & you survived depending on milk ? Don't be so greed after 15-20 yrs later you will be in the same boat.......just go back to your mom & say sorry. You get back happiness,richness much more than 15 cents of land.

    DisAgree Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bulsam, Mangalore

    Fri, Feb 14 2014

    The Citizen Commission should have a "Distressed Senior Citizen Board" in every Panchayat or Block to take senior citizens grievances. All Senior Citizens above 75 years and dependent on their ward, their ward should compulsorily register them in this cell. The human rights forum and the women protection forum should collaborate with this cell to identify them and they along with the Board staff should visit such homes at least twice a year to inquire about their welfare without the presence of their ward. This will curtail such incidents which are sadly happening in many pockets.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Kishore Kumar, Mangalore/UAE

    Fri, Feb 14 2014

    O' keshava, at the end everybody will be shava. O'K-shava

    DisAgree Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • William, Bantwal

    Fri, Feb 14 2014

    Sad days for Mrs.Amma. Fighting in court may not solve the problem. When he is against her, how can she live there? She will be counting her last days. Some other son or daughter who has broad mind, should support her and Keshava should pay all expenses till the end. Other sons also can contribute and support. It's just a few years, else in old age if nobody cares. In old age, they find people of the same age and same batch who can share their views. If nobody speaks to them, then they become mental at old age. Hope this son forgets fighting in court and treats her well.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Doris, Canada

    Fri, Feb 14 2014

    I am so glad that senior citizens are fighting for their rights. My hats off to Mrs. Amma and I sincerely pray that she gets justice. It is so sad that people fight over property and take advantage of senior citizens. A will is legal and binding and seniors must hold on to their property as long as they are able to. Food and shelter is the basic right of every person. I do hope her son respects and treats his Mother well. To get respect you have to give respect and be treated in the same way as you would like to be treated. May your God hold you in the Palm of His Hand. God Bless!!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • HPP, Mangalore/Dubai

    Fri, Feb 14 2014

    Dear Friends,
    This happens everybody's life in the future..Please teach your children good ethics,moral values,good conducts,spirituality in their life first. Money is not everything in life...this is a lesson for the younger generation..My sincere prayer to God for Savithri Amma..He is the One who gives good justice always..

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • vellano1, padupanambur

    Fri, Feb 14 2014

    This is SAD!!! I am sure the lady must be undergoing her Shani Dasha or Sadesathi, where u r stripped off ur wealth, displaced ... but eye opener as justice will prevail in the end. More power to Ravindra Maam, for fighting this case.. and if her son is reading... Dude, you are sick and I would still blame ur mom for carrying u in her womb, for she didn't deserve this..

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • vinaya, mangalore

    Fri, Feb 14 2014

    This is a heart touching story of a very old mother and a eye opener for all the old people .I humbly request all the elderly people, pls do not distribute property to your children when u are alive, but instead make a legal record (will) that after my/our(father/mother) death the property has to go to equally to all the children irrespective of sons or daughters.Why children do not realise that they have been taken care when they were small by the same old parents now? I hope this lady gets the justice when she is alive.

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lenston Dsouza, Nandalike/Kuwait

    Fri, Feb 14 2014

    Really a shame for human life. , If we dont know the value of LIVE GOD (PARENTS), then what's the use of daily worship to god. Where is the other Sons & Daughters..?, they got thier share in property & let their mother to die in hell. I cant imagine that, a son refuse to give food for her mother. I dont know, how he forgets his mother's first feeding with love. Even if we visit any old age homes, we will hear more worster than this incidents. I dont know, when our thirsty of money will going to end. Moreover, now a days human life cycle is only upto 45-55 age by luck. After all these shameless incidents, really god will decrease it to 35-45 age. I'm really sorry on Savithri Aggie & we will pray for your right Justice.

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • PEDDU, Mangaluru

    Fri, Feb 14 2014

    JUSTICE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS LADY IS ALREADY IN HER 86 AND WHAT SHE EXPECT FROM THE COURT WHICH WILL TAKE ANOTHER 500 YEARS TO PRONOUNCE THE JUSTICE !!! THIS SON REQUIRED JADOOO PUJAAA

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Laxmi, Hiriadka

    Fri, Feb 14 2014

    What happened to our so called culture! Where are the culture clowns ?

    DisAgree [5] Agree [33] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Katapadi/Bangalore

    Fri, Feb 14 2014

    Really a sad story of the old mother who fights for her living and claiming justice.Hope the parties involved in this act will reconcile and restore the right of peaceful living to the old mother.Thanq.All the best.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Fri, Feb 14 2014

    Sometimes These "children"forget that later they too have to go this path and you never know what will be waiting to them later.Mostly they get it back with the same coin paid back.At the Moment this Lady is vigil enough to fight back.I think back of certain moments happened in our Family.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Fri, Feb 14 2014

    At the old Age Person one day or the other Need help and there are children really take care of their parents with joy.but some other not bothered much about it.when there is a question of land or Money then they Forget about all relationships and in old Age parents have not much energy to fight .very sad when so happens.Hope the old Lady will get justice.and can remain in her house.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Gurudath, M'lore/Mumbai

    Fri, Feb 14 2014

    Very sad

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Radhakrishna Khandige, Mangalore

    Thu, Feb 13 2014

    very sad ! What about the other two daughters and 3 sons? are the not equally responsible? why they kept quiet? they also dont want to take the responsibility? For them the aged mom is a burden and a liability !I personally feel, all are guilty and responsible!

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • MUJEEB, MANGALORE

    Thu, Feb 13 2014

    "Your Lord had decreed, that you worship none save Him, and (that you show) kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age with you, say not "Fie" unto them, nor repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word. And lower unto them the wing of submission through mercy, and say: My Lord! Have mercy on them both, as they did care for me when I was young." [Quran 17:23-24]

    DisAgree [1] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Thu, Feb 13 2014

    What daily Pooja of the family deity?
    Hey Keshava ...Keshava!!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ahmed, Mangalore

    Thu, Feb 13 2014

    (Proverbs 23:22-25) Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy truth, and do not sell it buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. Let your father and mother be glad let her who bore you rejoice.

    (Quran 17:23-24) "Your Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor. And out of kindness lower to them the wing of humility and say: 'My Lord! Bestow on them Thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood."

    DisAgree [4] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • haya, kc road

    Thu, Feb 13 2014

    Sad to read... Respect your parents... especially MOM.. A man once consulted the Prophet Muhammad about taking part in a military campaign. The Prophet asked the man if his mother was still living. When told that she was alive, the Prophet said: "(Then) stay with her, for Paradise is at her feet." (Al-Tirmidhi)

    DisAgree [4] Agree [37] Reply Report Abuse

  • ISMAIL K PERINJE, PERINJE-KSA

    Thu, Feb 13 2014

    Very sad and unfortunate AMMA.Why this to happen to so old lady?Money matters but not MANISHATHUVA..

    DisAgree [2] Agree [33] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dinesh Poojary, Kundapura/Bengaluru

    Thu, Feb 13 2014

    Dear Savithri Ajji,

    We are sorry to hear this.

    Don't worry, whatever he has done today, will boomerang him tomorrow.

    We pray to god that you get justice soon.

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dr Kusuma Kumari G, Nellore/kodydka

    Thu, Feb 13 2014

    What a sad story. I feel very sad when children dessert their mother like this. Remember, there's a god who's watching all this from heaven!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [39] Reply Report Abuse

  • harish, dubai

    Thu, Feb 13 2014

    The problem savitri amma is the problem of society now days many cases are not reporting to the police the human being are now dont have basic humanity now days it is sign of fall of ethics in life it is the duty of elder,religious leader to take lead to teach humanity and responsibility of people otherwise this problem will lead to greater disastrous consequences in the future.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • amrath, udupi

    Thu, Feb 13 2014

    Sad ..This is not the first time that such sad incidents happening around us. When these greedy children will understand the sacrifices of parents? Does God forgive such children either in this life or next? Please take care of parents.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anand, Karkala

    Thu, Feb 13 2014


    It is a curse on Keshava Bhat to harass mother at this age and no use if you do "Kashi Yatra" in your life.

    DisAgree Agree [44] Reply Report Abuse

  • Felix Dsouza, Kumta/Pune/Kuwait

    Thu, Feb 13 2014

    What a Tragedy at this ripe Old age, to see their own children cheat their parents.I am sure her son will live a hellish life for doing this to a mother who has distributed everything equally to her children.may be more and more parents will stop trusting their Children for such cruel happenings in the world.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Udupi: Harassed by son, 86-year-old Savithri fights for justice



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