📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Vyacheslav Argenberg
Politics
Karnataka Draft Bill Proposes Up to 2 Years Jail and ₹1 Lakh Fine for Abandoning Seniors
✍️ Mangalore Today
🗓 31 Oct 2026, 02:26 PM
👁 9
A draft legislation in Karnataka seeks to penalise anyone who abandons senior citizens with a maximum two‑year imprisonment and a fine of up to one lakh rupees.
The Karnataka government has tabled a draft bill aimed at curbing the abandonment of senior citizens. Under the proposal, a person found guilty of leaving an elderly person without care could face imprisonment for up to two years and a monetary penalty not exceeding ₹1 lakh.
The draft, presented in the state assembly, forms part of a wider initiative to address the growing reports of elder neglect across the state. Officials say the measure will reinforce existing welfare programmes and give law‑enforcement agencies clearer authority to intervene.
Senior‑citizen advocacy groups have welcomed the step, urging the legislature to pass the bill swiftly and to issue detailed implementation guidelines. The proposal is slated for debate in the forthcoming assembly session.
If enacted, Karnataka would join a limited number of Indian states with specific statutes targeting elder abandonment, reflecting an increasing policy focus on the rights and safety of the ageing population.
The draft, presented in the state assembly, forms part of a wider initiative to address the growing reports of elder neglect across the state. Officials say the measure will reinforce existing welfare programmes and give law‑enforcement agencies clearer authority to intervene.
Senior‑citizen advocacy groups have welcomed the step, urging the legislature to pass the bill swiftly and to issue detailed implementation guidelines. The proposal is slated for debate in the forthcoming assembly session.
If enacted, Karnataka would join a limited number of Indian states with specific statutes targeting elder abandonment, reflecting an increasing policy focus on the rights and safety of the ageing population.