Give Timeline To Establish 'Elderly Helpline' Wherever Not Provided: High Court To Haryana Govt

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday (January 7) asked the Haryana Government to provide a timeline pertaining to establishment of elderly helpline under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 and Haryana Maintenance of Parents and Senior Citizen Rules, 2009.

While issuing notice, a division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sudhir Singh asked the Haryana Government to provide an affidavit detailing the number of districts in which a helpline for elders has been established. If it has not been established, the government must explain why, added the Court. It also directed Haryana government to provide a timeline for the establishment of the elderly helpline.

The PIL was filed seeking implementation of the statutory "Elder Line" helpline along with appointment of dedicated implementation agency for the helpline's regulation.

The plea highlighted that Haryana remains one of the two states in India, along with West Bengal, that has not appointed dedicated implementation agency to establish and manage the helpline for elderly citizen.

A toll-free service (14567) addresses various issues like emergency assistance, legal aid, healthcare guidance, and social welfare inquiries. The helpline has been successfully implemented in 26 states and 8 Union Territories across India and offers a wide range of services, including emergency assistance, legal aid, health guidance, emotional support, and access of social welfare schemes, it added.

The petition stated that three policies in 1999, 2011, and 2021 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment have also been framed, showcasing the intention of the Government to establish the helpline, however, till date neither has any action has been taken

 The matter is now listed for 18 February.

Case Title: Rampal Malhotra v. UOI & Ors.

Satyam Tandon, Mahima Dogra and Nisha Kanojia advocates appeared for the petitioner.

ASG Satya Pal Jail appeared for the Union Government.

Ad AG Deepak Balyan appeared for the Haryana Government.