India, March 2 -- The Bombay high court (HC) has upheld the eviction of a city resident who forcefully took possession of his stepmother's Kandivali home after throwing her out. The court reaffirmed that children or stepchildren cannot assert ownership rights over their parents' property while they are still alive.

"The position in law is well settled that during the lifetime of the parents, the children (in this case, the stepchildren) cannot assert any legal rights over their parents' property, either to claim ownership or possession," observed a division bench comprising Justice GS Kulkarni and Justice Advait Sethna. The court directed the stepson to vacate the house within 15 days.

According to the elderly woman, the flat was jointl...