Tribunal Declares Transfer of Property to Stepdaughter Null and Void
Udupi: An 65-year-old elderly woman from Puttur village in Udupi district who went through a harrowing time after she lost her property to a trickster stepdaughter is now finally hopeful of getting it back.
Mary D’Souza, a widow of Vijil D’Souza had realized that she was cheated by her stepdaughter- Julia D’Souza. Mary D’Souza approached the tribunal through Human Rights Protection ……… who is also the president of the Tribunal for Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens, Udupi district passed an order revoking the settlement deed of the property and directed the sub-registrar, Udupi and tahsildar of Udupi taluk to ensure that the property is transferred to Marry D’Souza.
Briefing to media persons on July 23 at the Vaikunta Baliga College of Law Udupi, Dr Ravindranath Shanbhag President of Human Rights Protection Foundation, Udupi said, “Vigil D’Souza had bought 1.25 acres of land, a house, shopping complexes and a residential apartment in Puttur village of Udupi taluk after he married Mary D’Souza in 1998 post the death of his first wife Theresa D’Souza in Italy. Julia, the daughter of Vigil D’Souza from his first wife had come to Udupi when Vigil D’Souza died in May 2013.
It is during this time Julia made her stepmother Mary to sign on the papers by deceiving her when Mary was in deep depression due to her husband’s death. Without knowing the consequences Mary transferred the property that her husband had registered in her name to Julia. Following this, Mary had to suffer physical and mental torture from Julia to the extent that she had almost decided to abandon her house in Puttur in order to look after her old aged mother. Even a police complaint could not protect her interests.
With the help of Human Rights Protection Foundation, she filed a complaint before the Senior Citizens tribunal in Udupi set up as per provisions of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act and sought justice. The tribunal said that the transfer of property shall be deemed to have been made by fraud or coercion or under undue influence and is declared null and void. Dr Madhukeshwar had conducted the spot visit and found that Mary D’Souza’s property was taken away by her stepdaughter by fraud. The Tribunal has also ordered the tenants of the building to pay the rent to Mary.
Mary D’Souza and her sister Felcy D’Souza were also present.
