Wed Sep 10 16:09:12 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewrite as a news article:
**Summary:**
The Karnataka High Court has urged the Central government to increase the ₹10,000 monthly maintenance ceiling for senior citizens, established in 2007 under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act. The court argues that this amount is no longer sufficient due to significant inflation and the rising cost of living. The court highlighted the widening gap between the cost of living index then (2007-08) to what it is today. It pointed out the increase in the cost of food, shelter and medicine since that time as it ordered a tribunal to reconsider the amount of maintenance that children are to pay their parents.
**News Article:**
**Karnataka High Court Calls for Increase in Senior Citizen Maintenance Cap Amid Rising Cost of Living**
**Bengaluru, September 10, 2025** – The Karnataka High Court has issued a strong recommendation to the Central government to revise the maximum maintenance amount payable to senior citizens by their children or relatives under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act of 2007. The current ceiling of ₹10,000 per month, fixed 18 years ago, is deemed inadequate in the face of spiraling inflation and the escalating cost of living.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna emphasized the urgent need for the government to revisit Section 9 of the Act, stating that the existing cap renders the Act a “hollow promise” that fails to guarantee dignity and adequate care for the elderly. The court cited the significant rise in the cost inflation index, noting that what cost ₹100 in 2007 now requires nearly ₹1,000, significantly impacting the affordability of essential needs like food, shelter, and medicine for senior citizens.
“The nation’s wealth is not measured by its material progress, but by the welfare of the child and the care of the elderly-old,” Justice Nagaprasanna added, underscoring the importance of ensuring the financial well-being of senior citizens.
The court’s recommendation came while addressing a case where a tribunal had ordered children to pay ₹5 lakh in compensation to their parents, an order the High Court set aside. While remitting the matter back to the tribunal for fresh consideration, the court directed the children to pay ₹30,000 per month each to their parents from September 2025 as maintenance.
The High Court’s intervention highlights growing concerns about the financial security of senior citizens in India and the urgent need for policy adjustments to reflect the realities of the current economic climate.
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