Explain shortage of state-sponsored old age homes in Telangana, HC asks government
As per the PIL, the State has failed to establish an adequate number of old age homes and minimum basic facilities are also not provided in the existing old age homes
By Newsmeter Network Published on 5 Dec 2023 3:26 AM GMT
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Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court asked the state government to give reasons for not establishing a sufficient number of old age homes across the state.
The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti, was adjudicating a PIL that highlighted the non-establishment of a sufficient number of old age homes in the Telangana State, due to which aged persons are deprived of a dignified life in their last stages of life.
Section 19 of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 mandates that the state government establish at least one old age home in each district to accommodate a minimum of 150 indigent senior citizens as mandated in the Act.
As per the PIL, the State has failed to establish an adequate number of old age homes and minimum basic facilities are also not provided in the existing old age homes, a violation of the fundamental rights of senior citizens including the right to life, the right to dignity and the right to shelter, under Article 19 and 21 of the Constitution.
After hearing the arguments, the Division Bench issued notices to the chief secretary, principal secretary to the government, the Department of Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens and its director and state commissioner, directing them to respond to the notices within four weeks and adjourned the case.
This is not the first time a case regarding the old age homes in the state has come up with the court bench.
In April 2022 too, the matter of insufficient old age homes in the state came for a hearing in front of the then Chief Justice Bench. Lawyer Vasudha Nagraj, through a PIL, informed the court that there are only two state-run old age homes; in Karimnagar and Rangareddy. The court then ordered the state to set up more old age homes, and the state agreed to set up one in each district.
In June 2020, the Telangana High Court criticised the Social Welfare Department for negligence when it found that out of the 130 old age homes, 41 were not registered under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007. Many of them were found to be missing basic necessities with the elderly living in deplorable conditions. The court then ordered action against the unregistered homes and the officials who failed to inspect the homes.
