Maintenance Tribunals — Definition

Definition

Maintenance Tribunals are specialised forums constituted by State Governments under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007. They determine maintenance matters within the statute through the prescribed process.

The Tribunal operates at subdivision level, with a presiding officer of at least Sub-Divisional Officer rank; the appellate forum is at district level. A parent need not have reached sixty merely to fall within the Act's parent definition.

Eligibility, responsibility and relief still require examination. The mechanism connects accessible adjudication with maintenance needs, while compliance and actual receipt of support remain separate implementation questions.