The Kerala High Court on Thursday directed yesteryear actor Lissy Priyadarshan to appear before the court and show cause why suitable punishment shall not be awarded to her for the wilful violation of the court order to pay the maintenance amount to her father.
Justice B P Ray also issued summons to the Ernakulam District Collector to appear before the court on November 12. The court passed the order on a contempt petition filed by Lissy’s father N D Varkey.
He submitted that though the Maintenance Tribunal had ordered Lissy to pay maintenance, she refused to pay the amount. The Kerala Legal Services Authority is providing the legal aid to Varkey.
“It is gross abuse of power by the District Collector who is the appellate authority and is contrary to all the provisions of judicial discipline. Lissy has also wilfully violated the court’s order even though there was a direction to pay the maintenance amount,” the court held.
The Maintenance Tribunal and Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Muvattupuzha, exercising powers under Section 7 of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007, had ordered Lissy to pay her father Rs 4,500 per month for his daily expenses and Rs 1,000 for medicines from January 1, 2010, until further orders.
However, Lissy approached the High Court challenging the decision and said that it was an ex parte order. The High Court declined to interfere and asked Lissy to pay the entire amount along with the arrears to Varkey.
It had also said that Lissy should be allowed to contest the case on all grounds after complying with the order. Further, Lissy had approached the District Collector who reviewed the order and remanded the case to the Maintenance Tribunal, despite the protest and his strong objection, the petitioner pointed out.
According to Section 16 of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, the Appellate Tribunal has no power to review the order, the petitioner pointed out.
The petitioner, who is residing at Pindimana village in Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district, said that he is a septuagenarian and is unable to maintain himself with his own earnings or out of the property owned by him.
According to him, Lissy has substantial assets worth several crores and her husband is the one of the most highly paid film directors in India.