Daughter in law Not Liable to Pay Maintenance to Mother in Law
Judgment dated 18.6.2026 of the Kerala High Court in Writ Petition (Civil) No.46758 of 2025 of K. Thankamma Vs. Moljimol K.S. and others
Raj Kumar was Senior Superintendent in the Kerala State Electricity Board. The petitioner is the mother of the petitioner, whereas, the respondent nos.1 & 2 are wife & daughter.
The petitioner – mother-in-law filed application under the Senior Citizens Act for maintenance from the daughter-in-law respondent no.1 and grand daughter respondent no.2 on the ground that she is entitled to her share in the monthly pension paid to wife.
The petitioner herself was service pension of the Fisheries Department and also receiving pension of her late husband.
Admittedly, the provisions of the afore Act are applicable only as regards “children” as defined under Section 2(a) of the Act read with the provisions of Section 2(g) defining the term “relative”. It is not in dispute that the daughter-in-law is not covered by the provisions of Section 2(a).

