upa 1 smpil125-10 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION SUO MOTO PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO. 125 OF 2010 Maharashtra Times ).. Petitioner Versus The State of Maharashtra and others ).. Respondents Mr. Floyd Francis Mariano Gracias-Amicus Curiae. Ms. Jyoti Pawar, Additional Government Pleader, for the Respondents. CORAM : MOHIT S. SHAH, C.J. AND S.J. KATHAWALLA, J. THURSDAY, 23RD DECEMBER 2010 P. C. : This public interest litigation was initiated upon reading an article in Maharashtra Times indicating the inaction on the part of the State Government in not implementing the provisions of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”). 2. In response to the notice, affidavit in reply has been filed by the Deputy Secretary, Social Justice and Special Assistance Department of the Government of Maharashtra indicating that recently the State Government has established Tribunal for each sub-division of District and has appointed the concerned Sub-Divisional Officer to be the presiding officer of that tribunal for the purpose of adjudicating and deciding upon the claim for maintenance under Section 5 of the Act. It upa 2 smpil125-10 is further pointed out that the State Government has also constituted Appellate Tribunal in each District of the State and appointed the concerned District Collector to be the presiding officer for the said Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals under the said Act. The State Government has also appointed 1st March 2009 as the date for exercise of the powers conferred under Section 193 of the Act. 3. Having regard to the above developments after initiation of the suo moto proceedings, it appears that nothing further is required to be done in the matter. Hence, the suo motu petition would be required to be disposed of. However, we find that looking to the age and position of the beneficiaries of above Legislation, it would be necessary for the State Government to ensure that wide publicity is given to the provisions of the above Act, particularly through electronic media, television and also through newspapers and documentary films. 4. Accordingly, while disposing of this suo motu petition, we direct that the State Government shall give wide publicity to the substantial provisions of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents Act, 2007 and also to the fact that the Tribunals are established under the said Act for each division of the District. The State Government shall also give wide publicity to the appointment of presiding officers of the Tribunal, their designation, their addresses and telephone numbers in the respective areas. This shall be done not merely once but shall be done periodically once in three months. CHIEF JUSTICE S. J. KATHAWALLA, J.