“A Cry in the Silence”: Haryana Human Rights Commission intervenes in heartbreaking elder abuse case in Gurugram
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, May 31, 2025 — In the quiet corridors of Ridgewood Estate in Gurugram, the faint but persistent cries of a 96-year-old man echo with unbearable pain — not just physical, but the deep ache of abandonment. His only companion, an 86-year-old wife with failing health and dimming hope, sits by his side, helpless and unheard.
This heart-wrenching reality came to light when concerned neighbors and the Ridgewood Estate Condominium Association, unable to bear the suffering any longer, filed Complaint No. 470/5/2025 with the Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC).
Their appeal revealed a harrowing tale: the elderly couple, once the pillars of a family, now allegedly left to fend for themselves by their son, Mr. Rajesh Mitra, in their once-happy home — Flat No. J-046.
What was meant to be their sanctuary has become a prison of pain. With only two untrained attendants for help and no regular medical supervision, the man’s groans of agony pierce through the walls and into the hearts of neighbors, many of them seniors themselves.
Repeated requests to the son and appeals to local authorities fell on deaf ears — until now.Moved by the sheer gravity of the complaint, Justice Lalit Batra, Chairperson of the HHRC, has ordered immediate intervention.
"This is not a private matter," Justice Batra declared. "When dignity is stripped from the elderly, it becomes a public crisis — a violation of Article 21 of the Constitution."
Justice Batra pointed to the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, stressing the state’s duty under Section 20 to ensure the healthcare and dignity of its senior citizens. He warned that, if abandonment is proven, criminal liability under Section 24 may be enforced against Mitra.
In a landmark move, the Commission has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Gurugram to form a Medical and Welfare Committee, including:
- Commissioner of Police, Gurugram
- Sub-Divisional Magistrate
- Civil Surgeon
- District Social Welfare Officer (also designated Maintenance Officer)
This multidisciplinary team will conduct a thorough medical, psychological, and social evaluation of the couple and develop a long-term care and rehabilitation plan, due before the Commission by July 3, 2025.
Dr. Puneet Arora, Protocol Officer at the HHRC, confirmed that strict compliance will be enforced. "The state cannot look away when its elders cry out. We owe them dignity, protection, and justice."