#coram non judice

An appellate order under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, is void if passed by a single District Magistrate without the two mandatory non-official members mandated by Haryana’s 2020 notification. This ruling reinforces that quasi-judicial tribunals must strictly adhere to statutorily prescribed composition - affecting senior citizens’ appeals, district magistrates, and administrative compliance across Haryana and Punjab.

The Punjab & Haryana High Court ruled that Maintenance Tribunals must be constituted with the mandatory two Non-Official Members under Sections 7 and 15 of the Act. Orders passed by an incomplete bench are void ab initio and must be reheard, ensuring strict procedural compliance to protect senior citizens' rights.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that eviction orders under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, passed by a tribunal lacking the mandated three-member bench, are null and void. The court emphasized strict adherence to procedural composition, remanding the matter for fresh adjudication before a legally constituted authority.