The Supreme Court has directed state governments to submit a fresh status report on setting up old-age homes and medical care facilities for senior citizens in every district across India.
The directions came while hearing a public interest petition filed in 2016 by former Union minister and advocate Ashwani Kumar, who argued that the basic rights and welfare of senior citizens are being consistently neglected. The petition sought district-level old-age homes, along with assured pension and healthcare support.
A Bench led by Chief Justice Suryakant, with Justices Jaimalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, heard the matter. Ashwani Kumar, who appeared in person, told the court that the case had remained pending for years without effective progress.
During the hearing, the Centre said implementation could be pursued through High Courts, but the Supreme Court expressed its intent to assess the current ground situation. The court ordered Attorney General Venkataramani to write to all state Advocate Generals, seeking details on the number of old-age homes and the basic facilities provided to elderly residents.
All states have been asked to file the updated report within four weeks of receiving the letter. The court also noted that it had earlier advised taking inputs from the National Legal Services Authority and the NGO HelpAge India to ensure smoother implementation of elder welfare measures.
