Stepmother too entitled for maintenance

The Chhattisgarh High Court has held that as per Section 2 (d) of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 stepfather and stepmother are also "parents"

Dismissing the plea of a petitioner who is working as a government teacher and was ordered by the tribunal to pay a maintenance of Rs.10,000 per month to his stepmother, and who had pleaded his inability, Justice Sanjay A Agrawal said, " We should respect, serve and worship our parents." The Court also imposed a cost of Rs. 2,000 on the petitioner.