With the law for old persons passed by Parliament saying that a transfer of property would be considered "fraud or coercion" if it was made on such a quid pro quo and the promise not fulfilled, the Union government is pinning its hopes on district magistrates to turn the tide in favour of the elderly by making popular the concept of "conditional inheritance".

Social justice and empowerment minister Meira Kumar said DMs, being registrars in districts, oversee property transfer and they should advise people on property changing hands. "They would know the law that is coming up better than common people," Kumar told TOI.

While DMs are the registrars in
districts, sub-registrars carry out the actual registration of property.

Importantly, the DMs hold centrestage in the operation of the "Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill" as the tribunals to be set to arbitrate the petitions from elderly to enforce care from children would be set up at sub-division level, which would fall under their jurisdiction. The DMs have also been designated as the "appellate authority" if the elderly want to appeal against a tribunal order. Kumar said, "I will write to chief ministers, asking them to take special care of provisions of the new law which are important to make it a success."