Udupi: Senior citizen Mary D'Souza gets back her property from stepdaughter


Pics: Justin D’Silva 

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD) 

Udupi, Jul 23: A senior citizen, whose property was taken away by her step-daughter in a fraudulent manner, has now received justice. Thanks to the efforts of Human Rights Protection Foundation (HRPF), Udupi, the Senior Citizens’ Maintenance Administration has passed an order to return the property to its rightful owner. 

Addressing a press meet , HRPF president, Dr Ravindranath Shanboughe, explained the challenges faced by Mary D’Souza. In 2010, Mary’s husband Vigil D’Souza had the ancestral property transferred to his name. However, he died of cardiac arrest in 2013. Julia D’Souza, daughter of Vigil and his first wife Theresa, who is settled in Italy, attended her father’s funeral in 2013. She forcefully took signatures from Mary, whom Vigil had married after Theresa had died. 

With Mary’s signatures, she got the ancestral property registered in her name. Mary was unaware of the transfer, until she received a letter from the revenue department. Mary approached the police station, but they were not able to do anything as the property rights were already transferred. 

Mary used to earn some income, collecting rent from shops. However, Julia diverted the rent money to her account and Mary was left with nothing and was unable to fend for herself. 

The Udupi District Senior Citizens Maintenance Administration, who took up Mary’s case, has now ordered to cancel the second management letter which gave property rights to Julia D’Souza. “Dr Madhukeshwar, president of Senior Citizens’ Maintenance Administration,had personally looked into the case and ensured that Mary got justice,” he added. 

Mary D’Souza told media the injustice and challenges she faced. “I was not in a condition to face the situation after my husband’s death. My husband was suffering from heart and kidney problems. He died due to cardiac arrest. We had kept his body in mortuary for four days as my step daughter wanted to attend the funeral. After four days of the funeral, Julia D’Souza and her relative Jovita came to me and asked me to sign the papers which said that the property will be transferred to Julia D’Souza. They physically assaulted me and threatened that I would live only if I signed the papers. I signed the papers with fear. Then Jovita was given power of attorney to manage the property matters and to collect rent from shops. I also approached the police, but they could not help me in the matter. Then with the help of Joseph Rebello and Dr Ravindranath Shanboughe, I succeeded in getting justice” she said. 

Julia D’Souza had also installed CCTV cameras inside the house and was keeping an eye on the activities happening. The property included 0.87 acre land, 4 houses and 8 shops which were given on rent. 

Joseph Rebello, social activist Prakash Kanive, principal of Vaikunta Baliga College of Law and others were present during the press meet.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Evans C. Sumitra, Udupi/ New York, USA.

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    Justice has been served to Mary D'Souza as she had never expected she would inherit her late husband's properties running in crores A unbelievable job done by Dr. Madhukeshwar, president of Senior Citizens' Maintenance Authorities, Udupi taluk and also Dr. Ravindranath Shanboughe, president of Human Rights Protection Foundation, Udupi taluk. Thanks to Justin D'Silva of Daijiworld for the photo coverage.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rudolf Rodrigues, Mumbai

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    If it's "ancestral property" then all legal heirs have got right to their share in the property! Even if it's self made property; in absence of WILL, all legal heirs have got right to their share in the property!

    DisAgree [10] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flora Dsouza, Kalmady/Jerimeri-Mumbai

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    Great relief to Mrs. Mary D'Souza... A big salute to SCMA and all who helped her to get her property back..... Julia & Jovita how cunning and shameless they are!! Instead Julia should have taken care of Mary D'souza after her father's death as her step mother taken care of her father.. There is no any relation now in front of money property etc..

    DisAgree [1] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Francis, Mumbai/Dubai

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    Here, no doubt greed is a virtual evil. However, late Vigil D'Souza would have written a proper will in order to nominate legal heir(2) for his property and thereby to avoid any dispute after his death. This is what I feel.

    In all probability, had Julia D’Souza was not greedy and looked after her step mother as her own mother, the entire property could have been easily passed on to her after Mary D'Souza's death.

    DisAgree Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sanjeev Kamath, Udupi / Seattle

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    Love thy parents, love thy neighbour. love all other religions too.

    DisAgree Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse

  • EULALIA DSOUZA, MANGALURU

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    Great Job SCMA. Justice delayed was not denied at last. This incident might give hopes to people who have gone through this trauma in life. Children can do anything for parents money, wealth and property during their life time and after their death. What parents have earned the hard way and accumulated for children, most cases children just want to enjoy and lavishly spend.
    God Bless this lady and those who have helped her in this cause.

    DisAgree Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • JNB, Bejai,Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    'Julia D’Souza and her relative Jovita' should given honorable phd in?????

    DisAgree Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Suzie Pinto, Udupi/Mumbai

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    Thou shall not covet thy neighbour's goods.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Roshan Rodrigues, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    God Bless all who helped her directly or indirectly

    DisAgree [2] Agree [42] Reply Report Abuse

  • Edward C Maben, Kudla

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    This all looks like a bunch of crap to me. Have no idea but doesn't look fair. Or maybe the father should have taken precaution and distributed the property equally. But again if it an ancestral propert, the step mother doesnt hold any right over the property unless it is on a will.

    DisAgree [14] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • JNB, Bejai,Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    "Mary, whom Vigil had married after Theresa had died".

    She is lawfully has right of her share in her husband's property, even it is derived from ancestors!

    DisAgree Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • MN, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    "Share" not complete Property

    DisAgree [5] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • JNB, Bejai,Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    yes my answer for only below question:

    " the step mother doesnt hold any right over the property "???

    DisAgree [3] Agree [5] Report Abuse

  • YOGI THUNTA, MANGALURU - NEAR PUMPWELL CIRCLE

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    When coming to money,power everything is gone to the wind NO RELIGION, NO RELATION AND NO PEACE

    DisAgree [2] Agree [45] Reply Report Abuse

  • Well Wisher, mangalore/sydney

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    What a shame , the step daughter resides in Italy and is so greedy . Old lady finally gets justice and lesson taught to the greedy girl .

    DisAgree [4] Agree [54] Reply Report Abuse

  • Abdullah Amin, Pumpwell, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    Afterall, Italian, you see.

    DisAgree [22] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Well Wisher, mangalore/sydney

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    How does a place matter for a person to be greedy Mr Abdulla Amin!!

    DisAgree Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • NN, NN

    Thu, Jul 25 2019

    At least he married after the death of his first wife but not married at the same time like............not Italian style after all.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jennifer, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    Four houses and eight shops' rent ? How much are you paying Jovita for managing the rental matters? 10 % of income ? Even if you had created a trust and ensured monthly allowance to the woman who looked after your father in his old age, all this shame may not have awaited you. Certainty you may not be a destitute in Italy??

    Tit-for-tat Mary should bequeathe the property to some old-age-home and live with peace and security.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [47] Reply Report Abuse

  • Evans Sumitra, New York/ USA/

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    Jennifer, Mangalore, I fully agree with your comments. Mary D'Souza should exactly do as what you have mentioned.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rudolf Rodrigues, Mumbai

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    Jennifer, since it's an ancestral property without a will all legal heirs have got right to their share of the property!

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Eric Coelho, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    Good job by SCMA. God bless the members. I hope we have SCMA in Mangalore.

    DisAgree Agree [35] Reply Report Abuse

  • Madhusudan, Nellikatte

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    You mean Vigil Dsouza having two wives. Did he divorced first wife.

    DisAgree [35] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • JNB, Bejai,Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 24 2019

    Kindly read in between the lines:

    "Mary, whom Vigil had married after Theresa had died. "

    DisAgree [1] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse


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