Go, touch your mother's feet: SC rebukes man over property dispute with parents

While dismissing a man's appeal in a Delhi property dispute with his parents, the Supreme Court said children who harass or defraud parents over assets cannot be protected by law.

In Short

• Supreme Court denied relief to son in property dispute with parents
• Parents built home with their hard-earned money in Delhi
• Son and wife claimed ownership using forged documents

The Supreme Court refused to grant relief to a man in a property dispute with his parents and advised him to seek his mother’s forgiveness and blessings, telling him to “touch her feet”.

A bench of Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and N Kotiswar Singh made the oral observations while dismissing the son’s petition in the case.

The petitioner’s parents had built their Delhi home with their hard-earned money. Out of love and affection, they allowed their son and daughter-in-law to live on the first floor of the house without paying rent.

The dispute arose after the man and his wife began claiming ownership of the property on the basis of forged documents. The lower court and subsequently the Delhi High Court ruled in favour of the parents.

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s decision and dismissed the son’s appeal. It also directed him to vacate the house within 60 days and pay compensation to his parents.

Looking at the lawyers present in the courtroom, Justice Sharma said, “Isn’t this boy’s behaviour wrong? The court wants him to go back to his mother, feel her, touch her feet, and seek her blessings."

The Supreme Court also emphasised the dignified place accorded to mothers in Indian society and across religions, including Hinduism.

The court made it clear that "such behavior by children who harass or defraud their parents for the sake of property cannot be protected by law."

- Ends