Karnataka drafts Bill proposing jail term for abandoning senior citizens
The proposed Karnataka Protection of Senior Citizens from Abuse and Neglect Bill, 2025, includes a fine of Rs 1 lakh for abandonment.
The Karnataka state government has drafted the Karnataka Protection of Senior Citizens from Abuse and Neglect Bill, 2025, to protect elderly people from abuse and neglect. The draft proposes a two-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh in cases of abandonment.
A 12-member expert committee, including members from the police department, NGOs, and the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, vetted the draft. The committee suggested making abandonment a non-bailable offence with three-year imprisonment.
An official in the Department for the Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens said the 2007 rules are not holistic and a comprehensive Bill is imperative. The draft includes penalties for neglect, grievance redressal mechanisms in caregiving institutions, and technological interventions.
National Crime Records Bureau data shows Karnataka recorded 4,247 cases of crimes against senior citizens in 2024, compared to 1,840 in 2023 and 1,583 in 2022.
The department has suggested a 13-member committee to examine the financial implications of the proposals. A source in the department said it is unlikely the Bill will be tabled during the Budget Session and may be presented in June-July.
The state currently follows the Karnataka Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules, which enforce existing central law, as it has no separate law.