MargadarshiniWhen children do not look after you: maintenance and protectionతె
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When children do not look after you: maintenance and protection

When children or relatives do not look after you: who to call in danger, how to ask the Maintenance Tribunal at the RDO's office for a monthly allowance, how eviction and appeals work.

About this guidePending verification

Published on 12-11-2026. Not every fact has been checked against its official source yet: confirm at the office.

Where:By phoneAt the office

For whom: Senior citizens (60 or older) in Telangana, parents of any age whose children do not look after them, and people helping them.

In an emergency, call at once

112In danger now: police, ambulance and fire emergency (Dial 112, 24 hours)100Police14567Elderline: national helpline for senior citizens (free). Information, guidance, and help on the spot in cases of abuse.

1Your situation

We show only what your answers need.

What do you need?
Who is applying?

Your answers stay on this phone.

2Documents you need

Tick the ones you have. They are kept in this browser.

  • Details

    Your details and Aadhaar number; the names, ages, relationship, phone numbers and addresses of the children or relatives you claim from; the help you want; whether you want interim maintenance until the decision; and the facts in short. It ends with a signed declaration.

    If you don't have it: Ask at the RDO office. The rules say forms should be available online or at offices people commonly go to, such as panchayat, post, mandal parishad, tahsildar, RDO and Collector's offices and police stations.

    Not confirmed: The CGG page says the online system (TSCMMS) takes applications; we found no official page giving its address. MeeSeva's website lists "MAINTENANCE TRIBUNAL APPLICATION" among the services at its centres. Ask at the RDO office.

    Sources: 3, 2, 9, 10

  • Details

    If the senior citizen cannot apply themself, a person they authorise or a registered voluntary organisation can apply. Their name, address and phone go in the form.

    Not confirmed: We found no set form for the authorisation in the Act or the rules; ask the RDO office what it should say.

    Sources: 1, 3

  • Details

    For example, the gift or settlement deed you made, or papers showing the house is yours.

    Not confirmed: The Act and rules do not list the papers to attach; they say only that the RDO checks the title. This is our pointer; ask at the office.

    Sources: 1, 3

    3Your steps

    · Do them in order. Tick each one when it is done.

    If something goes wrong
    1. Do this now

      Call Elderline on 14567 and tell them your problem.

      They give information and guidance free, and in cases of abuse they can come and help.

      Where
      Elderline: 14567
      Fee
      Free

      Sources: 4, 5, 6

    2. Do this now

      If your children or carers abandon you anywhere, threaten you or beat you, give a complaint at the nearest police station.

      Someone who has the care of a senior citizen and leaves them somewhere, intending to abandon them for good, commits an offence under the Act (up to three months' prison, a fine up to ₹5,000, or both). The rules say the police must attend promptly to senior citizens' complaints.

      Where
      The nearest police station

      Sources: 1, 2, 6

    3. Do this now

      Get the application form (Form A) from the Maintenance Tribunal at the RDO office.

      You can apply for maintenance if you cannot maintain yourself from your own earnings or property. If you could also claim maintenance through a court (Chapter IX of the Code of Criminal Procedure), you may claim under one law, not both; the form asks you to declare that no case on this is pending elsewhere.

      Where
      Maintenance Tribunal, Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) office

      Sources: 3, 2, 1

    4. Do this now

      Fill in the form: your details, the details of those you claim from, the help you need and what happened.

      If you want a monthly interim allowance until the decision, ask for it in the same form; no separate application is needed. You can claim against more than one child together. "Children" here means adult sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters. A senior citizen without children can claim from a relative: an adult legal heir who holds their property or would inherit it.

      Where
      You do this yourself

      Sources: 3, 2, 1

    5. Do this now

      In the form, also ask the Tribunal to declare void the transfer of property you made on the condition that they look after you.

      The Act gives this to senior citizens (60 or older), and only for transfers made after the Act came into force in the State (28 April 2008).

      Where
      You do this yourself
      Not confirmed

      The rules do not say plainly whether the same Form A is used to cancel a property transfer; ask the RDO office.

      Sources: 1, 2

    6. Do this now

      If the senior citizen cannot apply themself, a person they authorise or a registered voluntary organisation can apply.

      Write your name, address and phone in part 4 of the form.

      Where
      You do this yourself

      Sources: 1, 3

    7. Do this now

      For cancelling a property transfer, the Act names only a registered voluntary organisation as able to act for a senior citizen who cannot.

      Where
      You do this yourself
      Not confirmed

      The rules we read do not say whether a person the senior citizen authorises may ask for this; ask the RDO office.

      Sources: 1, 2, 3

    8. Do this now

      Give the filled form to the Tribunal at the RDO office where you live (or last lived), or where the children live: by registered post, by email or in any other way the rules allow.

      Ask the Tribunal's office if you want to hand it in yourself. Take the receipt (Form B) with the application number.

      Where
      Maintenance Tribunal, Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) office
      Not confirmed

      Neither the Act nor the rules we read name a fee for the application; ask at the office. For applying online, see the note on Form A.

      Sources: 1, 2, 3

    9. Do this now

      The Tribunal sends the children a notice and tells you the hearing date (Form D).

      Attend on that day. Neither side may bring a lawyer; if you wish, the Maintenance Officer (in the rules, the district's Assistant Director for the welfare of the disabled and senior citizens) speaks for you. If both sides agree, the case goes to a Conciliation Officer, who tries to settle it within a month.

      Where
      Maintenance Tribunal, Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) office

      Sources: 1, 2, 3, 7

    10. Do this now

      Wait for the order.

      Telangana's rules say it is due within 90 days of the application being received; it can be extended once, by at most 30 days, in exceptional cases, with reasons written down. The monthly allowance is at most ₹10,000, and no more than the other side's monthly income divided by the number of people in their family (counting you). You get a copy of the order free. The children must deposit the amount within 30 days.

      Where
      Maintenance Tribunal, Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) office
      Fee
      Free · The copy of the order is free
      Time limit
      From the day the application is received; once extendable by 30 days
      Not confirmed

      The central Act counts the 90 days from service of notice; Telangana's rules (G.O.Ms.No.40 of 2022) count from receipt of the application. A Bill of 2019 would remove the ₹10,000 ceiling; we found no official record that it became law, and a February 2026 reply in Parliament describes the Act unchanged.

      Sources: 3, 1, 2, 4, 8, 7

    11. Do this now

      Apply to your District Collector (District Magistrate) to have the children or legal heirs who do not maintain you, or who ill-treat you, evicted from your property.

      Where
      District Collector's office (Collectorate)
      Not confirmed

      We found no set form for this application in the rules; ask at the Collectorate.

      Sources: 3

    12. Do this now

      The Collector sends your application to the RDO within 15 days; the RDO checks the title and the facts and reports (within 60 days of the application).

      The Collector then gives those living there a notice of at least 10 days, hears them, and may order them to leave. If they do not leave within 30 days, they are evicted with police help and the house is handed back to you.

      Where
      District Collector's office (Collectorate)

      Sources: 3

    13. Do this now

      For legal advice, contact the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in your district court complex, or call toll-free 15100.

      Where
      District Legal Services Authority (district court complex)
      Not confirmed

      The Legal Services Authority gives free legal services to weaker sections; ask them whether you qualify for free help.

      Sources: 13

    If something goes wrong

    If it is rejectedIf you are not satisfied with the Tribunal's order, appeal within 60 days of the order to the Appellate Tribunal, headed by the District Collector.

    If you are not satisfied with the Tribunal's order, appeal within 60 days of the order to the Appellate Tribunal, headed by the District Collector. Attach a copy of the order to the appeal form (Form I). A late appeal can be taken if there was good reason. While the appeal goes on, the children must keep paying. The Appellate Tribunal is to try to decide within a month of receiving the appeal.

    Appellate Tribunal (District Collector), Collectorate

    Sources: 1, 2, 3

    If it is lateIf there is no order after 90 days (30 days more if extended), ask the RDO office why it is late.

    If there is no order after 90 days (30 days more if extended), ask the RDO office why it is late. Contact the District Welfare Officer (for the disabled, senior citizens and transgender persons) or Elderline on 14567.

    Elderline

    Sources: 3, 9, 5, 14

    AlsoIf the children do not pay after the order, apply to the Tribunal within three months of the amount falling due.

    If the children do not pay after the order, apply to the Tribunal within three months of the amount falling due. The Tribunal can issue a warrant to recover it, and can jail them for up to a month if they still do not pay.

    Maintenance Tribunal, Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) office

    Sources: 1, 3

    AlsoAn appeal against the Collector's eviction order goes to the Commissioner/Director, Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens and Transgender Persons, Telangana, within 30 days of the order.

    An appeal against the Collector's eviction order goes to the Commissioner/Director, Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens and Transgender Persons, Telangana, within 30 days of the order.

    Commissioner/Director, Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens and Transgender Persons, Hyderabad

    Sources: 3

    Find the office in your district →

    Related guides

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    The 14 official pages and papers this guide is written from
    1. The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 (No. 56 of 2007), Gazette of India Extraordinary, 31 December 2007Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department); copy on the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment's website, Sections 2(a), (b), (d), (g), (h); 4; 5(1), (2), (4), (5), (8); 6(1), (6); 7(2); 9; 11(1); 12; 13; 15(2); 16(1), (6); 17; 18; 23(1), (3); 24; 25. India Code's copy refused the connection (403) (29-12-2007) · read on 30-10-2026
    2. G.O.Ms.No.49, Dept. for WCD&SC (DW), 28-12-2011: the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules, 2011Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens, Government of Andhra Pradesh (adapted for Telangana by G.O.Ms.No.8, 30.5.2016), Order, para 2 (the Act in force from 28-04-2008, notified by G.O.Ms.No.10 of 2008); rules 4(1), 4(2)(b), 4(6), 6(1)-(3), 10-11, 14, 15, 18, 20(2)(ix), 21(2)(v), 24. Read from the Internet Archive's copy of 21 January 2026: wdsc.telangana.gov.in did not resolve on 2026-10-30, from outside India or from Hyderabad (28-12-2011) · read on 30-10-2026
    3. G.O.Ms.No.40, 30.12.2022: the Telangana Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules, 2011, amendmentDepartment for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens (Prog.II), Government of Telangana, Amendment 1 (rule 4(4): 90 days from receipt, plus 30); 4 (rule 21(3): eviction before the Collector, steps (a)-(d)); 7 (new forms); Form A ('Maintenance Tribunal (RDO) Office', item 4, the declaration); final-order form (appeal to the Appellate Tribunal, District Collector, within 60 days). Read from the Internet Archive's copy of 22 January 2026: wdsc.telangana.gov.in did not resolve on 2026-10-30, from outside India or from Hyderabad (30-12-2022) · read on 30-10-2026
    4. Long-term care infrastructure for senior citizens (Lok Sabha reply)Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment), Paras 6-7: Elderline (14567); Maintenance Tribunals and Appellate Tribunals, section 5(4) (03-02-2026) · read on 30-10-2026
    5. Welfare Initiatives for Senior Citizens (Rajya Sabha reply)Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment), Para 3: Elderline, toll-free 14567: guidance, emotional support, information, field intervention in cases of abuse and rescues, grievance redressal (03-08-2022) · read on 30-10-2026
    6. Parliament Question: Welfare of Senior Citizens (Lok Sabha reply)Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment), Elderline launched 01.10.2021; 'Other Initiatives': Tribunals (section 7), maintenance orders (section 9), abandonment punishable (sections 24-25) (03-12-2024) · read on 30-10-2026
    7. Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 (Lok Sabha reply)Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment), Paras 3-4: the 2019 Amendment Bill (introduced 11-12-2019); section 17, no legal practitioner (05-04-2022) · read on 30-10-2026
    8. Explainer on senior citizens' welfare (28 October 2025)Press Information Bureau, Section on the Act: describes the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and the removal of the ₹10,000 ceiling (28-10-2025) · read on 30-10-2026
    9. Project: Telangana State Senior Citizens Maintenance Cases Monitoring System (TSCMMS)Centre for Good Governance (Government of Telangana), Project brief (user department: Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens) · read on 30-10-2026
    10. Telangana MeeSeva portal: Service Details, Maintenance Tribunal Application (service 9084)Electronic Services Delivery (MeeSeva), ITE&C Department, Government of Telangana, Service Details (service 9084): Service Name "MAINTENANCE TRIBUNAL APPLICATION"; Service Delivery Channels: Franchisee Centres, Govt Centers. The page has no address of its own; read from the copy saved on 5 November 2026 (04-04-2026) · read on 11-11-2026
    11. Telangana Police Dial 112: Emergency ResponseTelangana Police, Page description · read on 30-10-2026
    12. Emergency ContactsGovernment of Telangana, Contact numbers: Police 100 · read on 30-10-2026
    13. IntroductionTelangana State Legal Services Authority, Paras 1-3 (free legal services, DLSAs in the district court complexes); toll-free 15100 · read on 30-10-2026
    14. HelplineMedchal-Malkajgiri District Administration, Government of Telangana, "Elder Line -14567" · read on 02-11-2026