Bombay HC Rules OCI Cardholder Can Seek Protection Under Senior Citizens Act
Mumbai, August 8, 2026: An Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder cannot be denied protection under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, merely because she is not an Indian citizen, the Bombay High Court has held, emphasising that the law must be interpreted in a manner that advances the welfare of parents and senior citizens. Justice N.J. Jamadar made the…
The Bombay High Court has ruled that an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder is entitled to protection under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, regardless of their non-Indian citizenship. The decision was made in a case involving a daughter-in-law who challenged an eviction order for her mother, who is an OCI cardholder residing in Australia.
The court emphasized that the law should be interpreted to advance the welfare of parents and senior citizens, and that a person qualifies as a "parent" under the Act without being an Indian citizen or above 60 years old. The court also clarified the distinction between the definitions of "senior citizen" and "parent" under the Senior Citizens Act, allowing the OCI cardholder to seek protection under the Act.
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